Former treasurer Joe Hockey will be named Australia’s ambassador to the United States on Tuesday.
Hockey retired from parliament in October and a byelection was held in his seat of North Sydney at the weekend. While Trent Zimmerman held the safe seat vacated by former treasurer, the federal government played down a swing of about 13% against the Liberals.
It is understood Hockey’s diplomatic appointment will be announced via a media statement on Tuesday.
The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, told the ABC’s 730 program on Monday he would not comment on the appointment.
“Joe is a great Australian and I look forward to him serving Australia in other capacities,” Turnbull said. “Any announcements will be made in a more formal and appropriate manner.”
The current ambassador, former Labor leader Kim Beazley, starts a new role with the Australian Institute of International Affairs in January.
Hockey resigned from parliament in October after 19 years as an MP and two years as treasurer. His resignation came after he lost the treasurer job when Malcolm Turnbull rolled Tony Abbott in September.
During his valedictory speech to the House of Representatives, Hockey praised his own efforts at ending the age of entitlement.
“I challenge all and sundry to name a speech in the last 20 years that has influenced the national debate in the way that the end of the age of entitlement speech did,” he said. “Finding the solutions to the social challenges and the financial threats of today, it can’t be postponed to another time, it can’t be left to another generation. Intergenerational theft and betrayal is not the Australian way.”
But news that Hockey might be able to access his generous parliamentary pension while getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars as a diplomat prompted outrage from users of social media.
The base pension for a backbencher who has been in parliament for the amount of time Hockey has is nearly $139,000. Hockey will receive additional loading for every year he held a ministerial position, boosting the overall figure.
The highest public service band, which would take in ambassadors for large countries like the US, has an average salary of $310,600 a year.
