December 27, 2024

Scott Morrison leaves Kirribilli House with his daughter ahead of the family’s move back to the suburbs – as it’s revealed how the ex-PM reacted when he realised he’d lost the …

Kirribilli #Kirribilli

Scott Morrison has been spotted leaving Kirribilli House with his daughter as the ex-prime minister and his family prepare to move back to their family home.

Mr Morrison stepped out of the heritage-listed mansion in Sydney sporting a Cronulla Sharks cap and light winter vest on Saturday.

He got behind the wheel of his Volkswagen while one of his daughters sat in the passenger seat.

Mr Morrison stepped out of the heritage-listed mansion in Sydney sporting a Cronulla Sharks cap and light winter vest on Saturday

Mr Morrison stepped out of the heritage-listed mansion in Sydney sporting a Cronulla Sharks cap and light winter vest on Saturday

He got behind the wheel of his Volkswagen while one of his daughters sat in the passenger seat

He got behind the wheel of his Volkswagen while one of his daughters sat in the passenger seat

The former prime minister has yet to vacate the premises as he continues to make preparations to move back to the Sutherland Shire.

He hired removalists to clear out one of the official residences of the prime minister with movers called out to The Lodge, in Canberra, on Thursday.

Mr Morrison has had an entire week to leave Kirribilli House with the former prime minister appearing to take his time moving out of the premises.  

He was reportedly optimistic he could have been re-elected at the start of election night last Saturday.

‘In the first hour, there were those swings in regional areas, and people were thinking it was 2019 all over again,’ an insider told The Australian. 

‘There was definitely a feeling that this looked like a repeat of 2019.’ 

The former prime minister surrounded himself with senior staff and family at Kirribilli House on the night. 

Chief of staff John Kunkel, private secretary Yaron Finklestein, communications director Andrew Carswell, former Howard adviser David Gazard, former Liberal Party official Scott Briggs and property tycoon Adrian Harrington were among his guests.

Kitchen staff offered beef patties to the visitors as they kept track of the vote count on their phones and tablets.

On Saturday it appeared Mr Morrison was finally making the move out of Kirribilli after he was seen departing the residence with one of his daughters (pictured, Mr Morrison sports a Cronulla Sharks cap)

The former prime minister has yet to vacate the premises as he continues to make preparations to move back to the Sutherland Shire

Mr Morrison was reportedly optimistic he could be re-elected as prime minister at the start of election night last Saturday

Mr Morrison was reportedly optimistic he could be re-elected as prime minister at the start of election night last Saturday

Mr Morrison leaves Kirribilli House while one of his daughters sitting in the passenger seat

Mr Morrison leaves Kirribilli House while one of his daughters sitting in the passenger seat

The mood began to shift as seats fell in Western Australia later that night. 

‘We knew it was over as soon as the numbers from Western Australia started coming in,’ another insider said. 

Mr Morrison asked his guests to leave the east-facing study and kept Kunkel, Finkelstein and Carswell behind so the group could work on his concession speech. 

Mr Morrison was reportedly subdued and called Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his election victory.

He then left Kirribilli House at 10pm and headed to Fullerton Hotel, in Martin Place.

The main function room and several rooms at the hotel had been booked out by the Liberal Party and computers set up so staff could keep track of the results.

Party pollster Mike Turner, senior researcher David Hughes and head of campaign media team Guy Creighton were following the numbers right until the end of the night.

He hired removalists to clear out one of the official residences of the prime minister with movers called out to The Lodge, in Canberra, on Thursday (pictured)

He hired removalists to clear out one of the official residences of the prime minister with movers called out to The Lodge, in Canberra, on Thursday (pictured) 

Speaking alongside his wife Jenny and two daughters to the Liberal faithful at the hotel, Mr Morrison said: 'Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese

Speaking alongside his wife Jenny and two daughters to the Liberal faithful at the hotel, Mr Morrison said: ‘Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese 

Mr Morrison enjoyed a cold drink as he chatted with staffers, friends, and family at a farewell social bash

Mr Morrison was dressed in a smart casual navy pullover and holding a cold one as he chatted with friends, family and staffers on the lawn.

Outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison enjoyed a cold drink as he chatted with staffers, friends, and family at a farewell social bash at Kirribilli House after losing the federal election (pictured)

An insider described the energy in the room as ‘flat’ when the results indicated the Liberal Party had lost the election. 

Speaking alongside his wife Jenny and two daughters to the Liberal faithful at the hotel, Mr Morrison said: ‘Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

‘And I’ve congratulated him on his election victory this evening. I have always believed in Australians and their judgement and I’ve always been prepared to accept their verdicts.

‘And tonight they have delivered their verdict and I congratulate Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party and I wish him and his government all the very best.’

Mr Morrison was asked by a friend what he planned to do following the election upset before he responded that he intended to sleep.

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. 

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

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.

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