The curry count – or at least the curries he’s posted about – is three at the time of writing.
Scott Morrison is in some ways is back to business as usual, cooking curries and sharing recipes online. Credit: Scott Morrison Facebook
It loses, though, to the number of Facebook posts about the Cronulla Sharks NRL team (there have been four), with two posts including selfies, one of Mr Morrison smiling in front of a screen showing the game in what looks like a pub, the other at a game itself.
Another selfie posted to Facebook with the caption, “Back on the tools”, shows he also had time for a spot of lawn-mowing, while a video of him at his local bowling alley shows his celebration dance (hopping from one foot to the other) after getting a strike.
With more free time, Mr Morrison also said he’s been practising his ukulele playing, saying that he “can get more” in, of late. It comes after a viral clip of him playing a Dragon song on the instrument during the campaign trail led to his rendition being criticised by some members of the public and even representatives from the band.
The former prime minister Scott Morrison has found time to practice his ukulele playing and do some lawn mowing. Credit: Scott Morrison Facebook
The posts on social media show Mr Morrison is enjoying a far less hectic schedule than was required as prime minister.
In the seven weeks since the election, there has only been one community engagement for Mr Morrison and his partner Jenny, who were the patrons for a Together for Humanity fundraiser, a group focusing on promoting interfaith tolerance.
So, what’s next for the member for Cook?
In just a few weeks Mr Morrison will once again be sitting in parliament, now returning to the backbench.
This week, Mr Morrison shut down claims he had been investigating a possible role at the Australian Rugby League Commission.
Then prime minister Scott Morrison kicks a football during a visit to the Kogarah Cougars Junior Rugby League Club during the election campaign. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE
The Nine Network reported last Thursday that Mr Morrison had spoken to “powerbrokers” in rugby league and made it “quite clear to them that he would like to be a part” of the commission, the controlling body for the sport, despite there not being a vacancy.
But Mr Morrison has denied these claims, telling Sydney’s Daily Telegraph it “sounds to me like just a bit of pub talk”.
“Love the NRL and my Sharks. PVL [Peter V’landys, the ARL chair] and Andrew [Abdo, the NRL chief executive] have done a great job. Really enjoyed working with them as PM to get through Covid and to expand the Pacific program,” he said.
Long-term entitlements and a big pay cut
Though he’ll be consigned to a different office and a smaller team, Mr Morrison is entitled to some long-term benefits after his role.
Along with all former prime ministers, Mr Morrison will be provided with a travel benefit called a ‘Life Gold Pass’ when he retires.
It covers 40 domestic return trips each year for former prime ministers and 25 for their partners. This is a retirement benefit that exists until they die.
While Mr Morrison, who was first elected in 2007, is not entitled to the pension scheme as the benefit cannot be claimed by anyone who entered parliament after October 2004, all MPs are enrolled in a superannuation fund with an employer contribution of 15.4 per cent.
As a backbencher, Mr Morrison will have a base salary of $217,060, according to figures released by the Remuneration Tribunal this July. It’s less than half of his $549,250 salary as prime minister last year.
The Feed, SBS has contacted Mr Morrison’s office for comment.
