Scott Morrison spotted boarding ferry to Athens amid speculation he is set to quit politics

Scott Morrison has been spotted hauling his own luggage while island-hopping in Greece as speculation builds over his future in politics.

Scott Morrison has been spotted packing his bags and hauling his own suitcase onto a ferry to Athens as his European holiday enters its fifth week.

The former Prime Minister skipped the final week of Parliament in mid June to mark the 40th anniversary of the International Democrat Union and appears to have been overseas ever since.

But with the speeches over, he has spent the last few weeks on holidays in Italy and now Greece where he was spotted boarding a ferry from Sifnos to Athens for the three hour trip.

Mr Morrison has been holidaying with his family for several weeks. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Morrison was spotted with his wife Jenny and two teenage daughters boarding the $100 a seat ferry in sweltering 40 degree heat before he sat with his bags with his airpods in his ears listening to audio.

He has not returned to Australia since the release of the Robodebt royal commission’s 900-page report found the “cruel and crude” scheme was “devised without regard to the social security law”.

Speculation was rife earlier this year that Mr Morrison was considering retiring from federal politics by the end of the year and may soon retire for an overseas consulting job.

In an interview in March, Mr Morrison said his new role as a backbencher was “liberating”.

“[It’s] quite liberating, I had the great privilege of serving in high offices – not just as the prime minister -for almost a decade,“ he said.

“I can tell you it’s a demanding job, one I love doing but also one that was quite exhausting over that length of time.”

In May, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that associates of the former prime minister had been sounded out by a major UK company in the defence sector about a senior role for the former prime minister.

The report claimed he could quit federal politics as soon as July.

The former prime minister was seen with his wife, Jenny. Picture: Supplied

It comes amid reports he may quit federal politics soon. Picture: Supplied

In June, Mr Morrison said his planned trip highlighted the bipartisan commitment to the AUKUS deal during the trip.

He said he expected to receive briefings from UK government officials and defence industry representatives on the deal signed under the former Coalition government.

“As a founder and architect of the AUKUS agreement I will continue to do all I can to support its success and continue to promote the strong bipartisan support that exists for AUKUS,” he said.

“I am also appreciative to the government for their assistance with my arrangements during my stay through the UK High Commissioner.”

Mr Morrison has been spotted by Australian tourists in Florence, Rome and the Italian coast after he jetted to Europe during Parliament’s winter-break.

In a photograph obtained by news.com.au, Mr Morrison is seen with his family on the Italian coast enjoying a summer holiday.

The Morrisons’ European holiday has entered its fifth week. Picture: Supplied

His 2019 trip to Hawaii was famously cut short by the bushfires after it was revealed he had secretly flown out of the country for a long-planned family holiday.

Scott Morrison has rejected findings against him in the robodebt report as “wrong and unsubstantiated” but expressed his regret to the scheme’s welfare victims.

In a 1200-word statement, the former Prime Minister refuted claims that he failed to meet his ministerial responsibility to ensure that the cabinet was properly informed that the robodebt scheme was lawful.

A defiant Mr Morrison said the Royal Commission’s 900 page report suggested it “didn’t understand how government operates.”

“As Prime Minister I oversaw the closure of the scheme,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“I completely reject each of the findings which are critical of my involvement in authorising the scheme and are adverse to me. They are wrong, unsubstantiated and contradicted by clear documentary evidence presented to the Commission.”

But Mr Morrison apologised to those impacted by the debt scheme and said there were lessons to be learned.

“I once again wish to acknowledge and express regret for the unintended consequences of the scheme and the impact that the operations of the scheme had on individuals and their families,’’ he said.