Outgoing Coalition senator Simon Birmingham moves to private sector, takes ANZ regional boss and chairman role

A long-serving outgoing Coalition senator’s new role once he steps out of parliament has been revealed.

Former Coalition government finance minister Simon Birmingham will walk into a high-level banking job at ANZ next year.

ANZ announced on Thursday the outgoing senator – who has been in politics for 17 years – will become the bank’s head of Asia-Pacific engagement as well as chairman of South Australian operations.

Senator Birmingham was finance minister for the second half of Scott Morrison’s prime ministership as the pandemic wrecked global economies and inflation began its steady climb skywards.

At ANZ, senator Birmingham will look to bolster the bank’s capital flows with Asia-Pacific nations.

The South Australian chairman role puts him at the helm of the bank’s institutional, commercial and retail businesses in the free settler state.

Simon Birmingham has served in Canberra for 17 years. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The current opposition senate leader was first elected to represent South Australia in 2007, and held trade, finance and education portfolios under two prime ministers. He announced his retirement from politics last week, and will begin the job at ANZ in February.

The most senior MP in the federal Liberal Party’s moderate wing, colleagues from both sides commended senator Birmingham on the announcement of his political retirement.

Anthony Albanese said senator Birmingham had “very broad respect right across the parliament, and he certainly has my personal respect”.

“He’s someone who is someone of integrity, who is easy to deal with and to get things done,” the Prime Minister said at the time.

Senator Birmingham is well respected by colleagues. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator Birmingham’s parliamentary voting record shows he consistently voted for reducing taxes for high-income earners, and cutting corporate tax rates.

He also opposed the banking sector royal commission in 2016 – all of these were votes along party lines.

In a statement announcing the new role, senator Birmingham says ANZ has “long played a strong role in promoting trade and capital flows throughout the Asia-Pacific”.

“South Australia’s economy increasingly demonstrates confidence and momentum.”

ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliot said the senator’s experience and knowledge in trade, investment and the economies and governments of the Asia-Pacific was valuable.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Senator Birmingham had ‘given an enormous amount to our country’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Simon Birmingham has had a distinguished career as a senator for South Australia and Australian cabinet minister … knowledge of and commitment to his home state will allow us to deepen our support for our South Australian customers and the state’s economy,” Mr Elliot said.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is investigating allegations ANZ traders manipulated the bond rate during a $14bn bond raising for the federal government’s debt agency.

Last month ANZ posted a full-year $6.7bn cash profit, but the chief executive’s pay and bonuses were cut by $1.6m.

Originally published as Outgoing Coalition senator Simon Birmingham moves to private sector, takes ANZ regional boss and chairman role