After channelling Arnold Schwarzenegger to attack his critics as “economic girlie men”, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has officially quit politics to run as a candidate as the next secretary-general of the OECD.
And the money man could double his dough if he gets the gig with a base salary of $383,000 that is tax-free in member countries as an employee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The Belgian-born senator currently earns around $390,000 as Senate leader but actually has to pay income tax.
The economic conservative has masterminded billions of dollars in tax cuts for companies and individuals as the nation’s longest serving Finance Minister but a tax-exempt salary could loom if he is appointed to the role.
He spruiked his credentials for the prestigious job on Thursday by speaking in French and German at a press conference in Canberra.
Announcing the decision today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed he will be replaced as Senate leader and Finance Minister by the Trade Minister Simon Birmingham.
The changes will take effect from Senator Cormann’s retirement at the end of the month.
“Mathias’s seven-year experience as our longest-serving Finance Minister, Belgium-born, French-German and Flemish to boot, I think ideally equips him for the challenging role of the Secretary-General of the United Nations,’’ Mr Morrison said.
“Australians have an ability to work with everyone, to get on with everyone, to find the way through, to be practical, to bring people together and to support the many global organisations which the OECD would work particularly the G20.”
Senator Cormann said it was a great honour to be nominated as Australia’s candidate for the prestigious role but stressed his candidacy was no guarantee he will secure the top job.
“The OECD is without any doubt one of the most consequential international economic policy and governance bodies in the world today,’’ he said.
“As we confront the economic impact of the global COVID recession, this is going to be a particularly important time in the history of the OECD.”
“I’m a veteran of selection contests. And rule number one: Never take anything for granted,’’ he said.
Indeed, Senator Cormann emerged as a key player or kingmaker in every Liberal Party leadership coup since Malcolm Turnbull was first removed as leader in 2009.
Senator Cormann had a bitter falling out with Mr Turnbull over the 2018 leadership change after the former PM accused him of being “weak and treacherous” in a private text message published in his memoir A Bigger Picture.
The WA senator denied being part of any insurgency.
“I genuinely backed you until events developed, sadly, which in my judgment made our position irretrievable,” Senator Cormann wrote.
“All this has been very painful – yes, I know, first and foremost for you, and for that I am very sorry.”
The longest serving Finance Minister in Australian political history, Senator Cormann farewelled his cigar-chomping impersonator on the ABC’s Mad As Hell comedy program last night by confronting his mythical spokesman Darius Horsham who frequently orders others to stop being an “economic girlie-man”.
“And finally, Darius, as Mathias Cormann is leaving politics and this will be your last time on the show, we’ve arranged for someone very special to say goodbye,” host Shaun Micallef said to the fictional character.
“Hi, Darius. Mathias here to wish you all the very best for your future,” Senator Cormann said.
“If you’re writing your memoirs and you need someone to record the audiobook for you...”
Darius: “Oh, come on. Don’t be ridiculous. You sound nothing like me.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” Senator Cormann replied.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiogFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9maW5hbmNlL2Vjb25vbXkvYXVzdHJhbGlhbi1lY29ub215L21hdGhpYXMtY29ybWFubi1yZXZlYWxzLW5leHQtY2hhbGxlbmdlLWFzLWhlLWV4aXRzLXBvbGl0aWNzL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvZjljOTYwNWM3ZTU2ZWZmNmNlYzY5YzQ1YjE5Mjc2ZmHSAaIBaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAubmV3cy5jb20uYXUvZmluYW5jZS9lY29ub215L2F1c3RyYWxpYW4tZWNvbm9teS9tYXRoaWFzLWNvcm1hbm4tcmV2ZWFscy1uZXh0LWNoYWxsZW5nZS1hcy1oZS1leGl0cy1wb2xpdGljcy9uZXdzLXN0b3J5L2Y5Yzk2MDVjN2U1NmVmZjZjZWM2OWM0NWIxOTI3NmZh?oc=5
2020-10-08 00:56:54Z
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