Simon Birmingham bows out of politics with warning against ‘divisive tribalism’

Simon Birmingham has lamented the rise of populism as he announced his retirement from politics in a veiled warning to Coalition colleagues not to mimic Donald Trump’s agenda.

Popular Liberal moderate Simon Birmingham is calling time on his 18-year career as a senator for South Australia. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire

Liberal Senate leader Simon Birmingham has lamented the rise of populism and “divisive tribalism” as he announced his retirement from politics – in a veiled warning to some of his Coalition colleagues not to mimic Donald Trump’s hard-right agenda.

The most senior member of the Liberal Party’s moderate faction revealed on the Senate’s last sitting day for the year that he would not contest the coming election and would take up a “commercially oriented” role in the new year.

The opposition’s foreign affairs spokesman and former cabinet minister, 50, told the chamber on Thursday that after nearly 18 years as a senator for South Australia it was “the right time” for him to leave.

With some in the Coalition taking inspiration from Mr Trump’s election win in the US, Senator Birmingham said most Australians were political centrists and “the parties of government forget that at their peril”.

He said he was proud of his “small role” in securing marriage equality, having been the first ­Coalition frontbencher to publicly advocate the change, and called for the nation to celebrate its Indigenous people rather than being “resentful” of them “due to per­ceptions of special treatment”.

“Those on the harder edges of the left and the right who seek to divide our country only make us weak in our division,” Senator Birmingham said.

“Little is gained by culture wars, politicians obsessing over what happens in private bedrooms, or anyone seeking to override evidence-based medical practice.

“The global rise of populism and divisive tribalism peddled by ideological extremes troubles me. It risks social cohesion in countries like ours, and jeopardises (their) economic wellbeing.”

Retiring Liberal Senate leader Simon Birmingham talks across the table with his Labor counterpart Penny Wong. Picture: Martin Oldman/NewsWire

As Mr Trump threatens to unleash a new global trade war with tariffs on US friends and foes alike, Senator Birmingham said he was “unashamedly a free trader”, arguing Australia must protect its hard-won free trade agreements.

He hinted his new role would be a trade-related one, declaring: “I look forward to advancing these interests and to helping to practically grow our trade and investment flows through our region.”

The former finance, trade and education minister paid tribute to Peter Dutton, saying while they didn’t agree on everything, the Opposition Leader was “grounded, thoroughly decent” and would make a “strong and effective prime minister”. Senator Birmingham also lauded the four Liberal prime ministers he served under. He said John Howard was “always generous with his time and advice”; Tony Abbott “gave me the opportunities of serving on the frontbench and in the ministry”; Malcolm Turnbull “backed me in the pursuit of difficult reforms”; and Scott Morrison challenged him with top cabinet committee roles and “and the joys of being a campaign spokesperson through two elections”.

Mr Dutton said Senator Birmingham was an “outstanding senator” who had excelled in every portfolio he held.

“His fierce intellect and calm demeanour have seen him engage in the battle of ideas in a manner that is persuasive, principled and respectful,” he said.

“I have no doubt that Simon Birmingham would have made one of Australia’s finest foreign ministers.”

Labor Senate leader Penny Wong, a fellow South Australian, praised her political opponent for his “extraordinary career” and his friendship across the aisle.

“I think in politics you see a lot of people who (have) a lot more spin than substance,” she said.

“With Senator Birmingham, there’s a lot more substance than spin. And unlike many in this building, he never promotes how good he is, or tells people how smart he is. But he is a man of enormous competence and high intellect.”

Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie expressed her ­“genuine sadness” at Senator Birmingham’s departure despite there having been “tough conversations” from time to time between the Coalition parties.

“Finding ways to get through that together, to make sure that every member of our team is able to express their values, to find a solution that allows them to bring their constituents along and to actually respect their role as a senator, I think shows you as a very considered and pragmatic leader,” she said.