Dumped prime minister Scott Morrison‘s family are still holed up in Kirribilli House – and the ousted PM is running out of time before his successor arrives back in Australia from Japan.
Moving vans have not yet been sighted at the heritage-listed Sydney harbour front mansion where Mr Morrison lives with his wife Jenny and two daughters.
Crates of bottled water also arrived on Wednesday morning, indicating the Morrison family is not planning on heading back to the Sutherland Shire anytime soon.
The family had a short reprieve after Saturday’s election drubbing with Anthony Albanese flying to Tokyo for the Quad meeting on Monday.
Mr Morrison used the days after his defeat to drown his sorrows with at least one rowdy party where he thanked friends, family, and staff for their efforts.
The outgoing PM and his wife both entertained guests by cracking a large whip on the lawn in between guzzling margaritas.
Crates of bottled water also arrived at Kirribilli House in Sydney on Wednesday morning, potentially indicating Scott Morrison’s family is not planning on going anywhere in a hurry four days after losing the election
Moving vans have not yet been sighted at the heritage-listed Sydney mansion where Mr Morrison lives with his wife Jenny and two daughters. Instead there was a water delivery (left) and a crew doing maintenance on the front security gates
But the new prime minister, Mr Albanese, returned to Australia on Wednesday afternoon and will be keen to upgrade from his $2.5 million three-bedroom bungalow in Marrickville.
Tony Abbott moved out of Kirribilli House within 72 hours of being ousted by Malcolm Turnbull on September 15, 2018.
Kevin Rudd, however, took five days to leave The Lodge in Canberra, where he was primarily based, after losing a party room vote to Julia Gillard in June 2010.
Flyers posted around the neighbourhood depicted Mr Morrison as a lost dog, with his head on the body of a West Highland terrier with the title: ‘Have you seen Scottie?’
He was also rather accommodating to John Howard’s family after defeating him in a landslide in 2007, saying ‘they should take as long as they need’ to move.
Mr Morrison is believed to have left Kirribilli House on Monday or Tuesday, but his wife Jenny and other family were still inside on Wednesday.
Labor is taking the high road with Graham Perrett, who was shadow parliamentary secretary since 2014, saying the family should have all the time they need to transition.
‘I think we should respect the service Scott Morrison has given this country,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘He’s got kids, he’s got a family, I don’t think the prime minister is in any hurry.’
Neighbours in the leafy suburb in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge mocked Mr Morrison’s election defeat and quiet exit to an undisclosed location even as his family remain.
Flyers posted around the neighbourhood depicted Mr Morrison as a lost dog, with his head on the body of a small pup and the title ‘Have you seen Scottie?’
‘Missing from Kirribilli House since 1pm on Sunday. Enjoys walkies, tells porkies. Like sharks but scared of fire. Used to run, now a basket case,’ it read.
‘Bites off more than he can chew and last seen barking up the wrong tree. I’d look for him myself but it’s not my job and I’m hoping for a miracle.’
Mr Morrison has yet to update his Twitter profile to reflect the fact he is no longer prime minister, an oversight that has been spitefully and gleefully jumped on by his critics
This prompted petty Twitter trolls to report his account as ‘impersonating’ Mr Albanese
Other than hosting parties, the family has tried to keep a low profile since the humbling election defeat, even appearing to hide from cameras when departing for an outing on Sunday.
The outgoing prime minister made a quick getaway from Kirribilli House in Sydney in a three car convoy just before 9am on Sunday.
Mr Morrison stepped into the car with his wife Jenny, mother Marion and mother-in-law Beth Warren before the vehicles exited through the front gate without stopping for the reporters waiting for him on the street.
Not only has Mr Morrison’s family not yet moved out despite it being the fourth day since his defeat, but he has not yet got around to changing his social media bios to note he is no longer PM.
This prompted petty Twitter trolls to report his account as ‘impersonating’ Mr Albanese because it still reads ‘Prime Minister of Australia and Federal Member for Cook’.
The Morrison family have to move out of Kirribilli to make way for Mr Albanese, who is expected to live there with long-term girlfriend Jodie Haydon, his son Nathan from a previous marriage, and ‘First Dog’ Toto.
Scott Morrison has hidden away from the cameras the morning after he conceded defeat to Anthony Albanese
The outgoing prime minister made a quick escape from Kirribilli House in Sydney as he continues to reel from his election loss on Saturday night
He had a little more time that usual as Mr Albanese few to the Quad meeting in Japan on Monday almost immediately after being sworn in that morning, but he will return on Wednesday afternoon.
As the Morrison family remained holed up in their home of four years, the PM’s remaining fans delivered bouquets of flowers to the fortified gate to cheer them up.
One sullen-looking woman arrived at Kirribilli on Monday night with her family, including a young boy and an older woman, and were let inside by police guarding the entrance.
She clutched a bouquet of pink roses, lilies and, chrysanthemums wrapped in white and pink paper as she approached the gates with a glum expression on her face.
Later in the evening a delivery driver arrived with another bouquet of mixed flowers from CBD Flowers, which he handed to a policeman to take to Mr Morrison and his family.
One sad-looking woman arrived at Kirribilli on Monday night with a bouquet of roses, lilies and, chrysanthemums
Later in the evening a delivery driver arrived with another bouquet of mixed flowers from CBD Flowers
Outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison enjoyed a cold drink as he chatted with staffers, friends, and family at a farewell social bash on the at Kirribilli House after losing the federal election (pictured)
What Mr Morrison will do next is yet to be decided, but in his concession speech at Sydney’s Fullerton Hotel on Saturday night, he confirmed he was stepping down as leader.
But he vowed to stay on in Parliament to serve his South Sydney constituents, an unusual move for a prime minister ousted from office by voters.
‘The people of Cook have supported me so strongly and I will continue to be your representative,’ he said.
What’s not clear yet is if Mr Morrison will look for a role on the new Liberal leader’s front bench as a shadow minister, or if he will move to the back benches.
Alternatively, he may later reconsider his decision to stay on in Canberra and instead quit to spend more time with Jenny and their girls, Abbey and Lily.
Veteran political broadcaster Barrie Cassidy predicted Mr Morrison will stay on in Parliament, with the intent to cause chaos by sniping from the sidelines.
Why Scott Morrison REALLY lost the election: Furious Liberal MP who lost to ‘teal’ independent gives damning verdict of former PM
Scott Morrison was ‘viscerally’ disliked by voters who ousted a score of Liberal MPs in a protest against the Prime Minister, former MP Dave Sharma has claimed.
The former Liberal member for the inner-Sydney seat of Wentworth lost his job to ‘teal’ independent Allegra Spender, who focused her campaign on climate change.
Mr Sharma gave a damning verdict on the consequences of Mr Morrison’s popularity in his electorate, with up to 20 Liberal MPs losing their seat in other areas.
The 46-year-old put the blame firmly at Mr Morrison’s feet, saying he was ‘definitely a drag’ on his vote.
‘He had a negative approval rating in seats like mine, and he was a drag on the vote,’ he told ABC Radio on Wednesday morning.
‘When you spoke to people… it was almost visceral, their reaction (to Morrison).
‘They would say “he’s too religious”, they didn’t like that he carried coal into parliament one time.
‘They didn’t believe his sincerity on climate change, they didn’t like our handling of Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame – the Brittany Higgins rape allegations and Grace Tame’s comments.’
Former Liberal member for the NSW seat of Wentworth Dave Sharma (pictured) was ousted by independent Allegra Spender
Meanwhile, the so-called ‘teal’ candidates, including Ms Spender, the daughter of designer Carla Zampatti, positioned themselves cleverly to voters as an alternative, he explained.
‘Undoubtedly, the (former) prime minister had lost some prestige and credit during over the last few years,’ Mr Sharma added.
‘The teal candidates positioned themselves quite cleverly I think, as a repository for an anti-government protest vote without being a Labor-Greens vote.’
Mr Sharma insisted that with Mr Morrison stepping down as party leader on election night, there was no better option to take the party forward than former defence minister Peter Dutton, who is widely expected to take on the role.
‘He’s our most experienced parliamentarian… his first job and his main job is to hold the government to account and to be opposition leader,’ he said.