Former Labor leader and two-time prime ministerial candidate Bill Shorten will retire from politics as one of the least lavish of his federal colleagues, but will soon top them.
The federal member for Maribyrnong, Victoria – whose Brisbane-born wife Chloe is the daughter of former Australian Governor General Dame Quentin Bryce – has a single property listed to his name with no complicated trust funds to unravel, but he can soon make up for lost time with his incoming pay packet.
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Former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten announcing his retirement at Parliament House in Canberra with family by his side. Picture: NewsWire
Listing pictures of the house he bought in 2019.
The Shortens own a stunning five bedroom house with pool in Travancore in his electorate, but they won’t be returning there any time soon, with his announcement that his next move will be as vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra – a $1m pay packet that’s over 40 per cent higher than that of the Prime Minister.
The Shortens most expensive purchase to date was $3m for their Travancore home in 2019, after upgrading from their cherished Moonee Ponds home where they’d had “ten years of great times”.
Their former home, which Mrs Shorten had personally decorated, had been bought for $842,0000 in 2009 and offered up for auction, before being withdrawn and put up for private sale in 2019. It sold in early 2020 for $1,655,100.
He bought the home for $3 million.
Then Opposition Leader Bill Shorten with Chloe and family after addressing the final week campaign rally in 2019. Picture Kym Smith
In a statement Thursday morning, Mr Shorten said “I’m excited to say that, from February next year, I’ll be serving as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canberra”.
“Like many people in their 50s, I had started to think about what comes next,” he said.
“I have a choice: to seek more terms in parliament, or to step into a new career while I’m still relatively young enough to make that choice and can choose a career consistent with my values, ideals and experience”.
Mr Shorten said “I genuinely consider myself one of the luckiest people in politics”.
“I’ve been the Member for Maribyrnong, a community I love. I have served in portfolios I care about – bushfire reconstruction, Superannuation, Industrial Relations, Government Services and – starting my career as Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and finishing as Minister for the NDIS.”
Bill Shorten pictured outside his Moonee Ponds home in Melbourne that he sold the year after losing the 2019 federal election. Picture: Ian Currie
The campus in Belconnen where he will now preside. Picture: Facebook/UC
“And for nearly 6 years, I had the great privilege of serving as Leader of the party and the movement that has been an irreplaceable part of my life. None of this would have been possible without the love, patience and support of my family – and the sacrifices Chloe, Rupert, Georgette and Clementine have made for me. Chloe has been a tower of love and strength – and shown more courage than I dreamed existed.”
Mr Shorten said “I’ve experienced some extraordinary highs in the last 17 years. And let’s face it, some pretty difficult lows. But there is not a single day I would hand back.”
“I’m thankful to be leaving parliament while there are still people who want me to stay …
… and while I still feel have more to give: to this great country and the remarkable people who call it home.”
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