An emotional Bill Shorten has announced his retirement from politics to take up a position in academia, saying he stood by the policy ideas that delivered a shock loss in the 2019 election and cost him his chance to become Prime Minister.
Mr Shorten was approved as the next vice chancellor of the University of Canberra on Wednesday, but will stay in parliament until the start of the 2025 academic year.
Mr Shorten, 57, led the n Labor Party from 2013 to 2019 and has served as the MP for the Melbourne electorate of Maribyrnong since 2007.
In 2019 he was widely expected to lead Labor to victory against a very divided Coalition government but a successful scare campaign about his proposed end to tax breaks on negative gearing and share dividend income contributed to a shock defeat.
‘I have experienced some extraordinary political highs in the last 17 years,’ Mr Shorten said in a media conference on Thursday.
‘Let’s face it, some extraordinary political lows
‘There is not a single day in the last 17 years that I would hand back. Because every day, I know how lucky I have been to have the privilege to serve the n people.’
Many political commentators questioned his decision to go public with the divisive policy platforms at the 2019 election and believe that honesty cost him the election.
‘I am proud of the fact that we took policies to the people where we were honest and upfront,’ Mr Shorten said.
‘Some of the ideas, and I’m not referring particular, were bold and audacious but this government has been able to succeed because they got elected.
‘The reality is that the verdict of the people was that they were not ready for that and where we were going (now) on focusing on supply, building more housing, I think is the sensible, realistic proposition which brings people together and we have got a very ambitious program which we are rolling out.’
Mr Shorten was appointed to the ministry during Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard’s government, before winning the role of opposition leader.
As Opposition leader, Mr Shorten led Labor to a narrow loss at the 2016 election but the unexpected defeat in 2019 delivered office to then Liberal leader Scott Morrison who described his surprise victory as a ‘miracle’.
After this loss, Mr Shorten resigned as ALP leader and now Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was elected unopposed to succeed him.
Mr Shorten was appointed as the Minister for Government Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Although Mr Shorten and Mr Albanese were not political allies, they have had a successful working relationship.
Shorten said he stood up for underdogs during his career.
‘I genuinely consider myself to be one of the luckiest people in politics. I have been the member for Maribyrnong, it is a community that I love so much. I’ve had the privilege to serve in portfolios that I care about.’
Mr Shorten thanked his wife Chloe – the daughter of former Governor General Quentin Bryce – and children Georgette, Rupert and Clementine, for their support.
‘The sacrifices they have made. Chloe has been a tower of love and strength and I think she has shown more courage than I’d dream could exist.’
Mr Shorten said he thought the government was doing a good job at tackling the cost of living crisis even as prices remain persistently high and has forced up interest rates.
‘What we are doing is tackling cost-of-living but not in a way where it makes a recession and slammed the economy into a wall.’
Mr Albanese praised Mr Shorten as a great leader of the Labor Party, despite the two election losses.
‘He united the party, he re-energised the caucus, he saw off two prime ministers, and he rebuilt Labor into a strong opposition and a genuine alternative government,’ he told reporters in Canberra.’He united the party, he re-energised the caucus, he saw off two prime ministers, and he rebuilt Labor into a strong opposition and a genuine alternative government,’ he told reporters in Canberra.
‘Through his years as leader, no one worked harder than Bill.
‘No one brought more energy, enthusiasm, ideas and ambition to advocating for the need for a Labor government.’
Mr Shorten’s decision comes weeks after two other senior ministers, Linda Burney and Brendan O’Connor, announced they would be retiring at the next election, leading to a ministerial reshuffle.