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Morrison back to being ‘quiet Australian’

Ex-prime minister Scott Morrison wants the government to consider sanctions on Chinese officials.

Ex-prime minister Scott Morrison wants the government to consider sanctions on Chinese officials. Photo: AAP

Scott Morrison is coming to terms with life as a “quiet Australian”.

Including doing the school drop-off run for his two daughters.

In his first interview since the coalition’s loss in the weekend federal election, the former prime minister has reflected on the “brutal” business of politics insisting he has always given equal weight to the good and the bad.

“That’s the nature of our democracy,” he told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.

“I’ve never been one to get terribly flattered in victory nor pessimistic in defeat and I think you’ve got to look both of those things in the same way.”

Spending more time with his family and in his southern Sydney electorate with the community who first elected him to parliament are Mr Morrison’s top priorities at the moment.

“(I’m) going back to being a quiet Australian in the (Sutherland) Shire,” he said.

Mr Morrison, his wife Jenny and daughters Abbey and Lily are in the process of moving out of the prime minister’s official Sydney residence at Kirribilli.

He’s also resumed doing everyday tasks he’s missed during his tenure, including the school run.

“I’m looking forward to being a dad again.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to spend as much time as I would like with the family.”

Mr Morrison says he is humbled by the opportunities given to him while prime minister rather than dwelling on the election loss.

“You take every opportunity you can to try and achieve what you’re looking to achieve for the country and that’s what I’ve done,” he said.

“I leave not with regrets but with a great sense of gratitude to the people of Australia.”

But he did regret former treasurer Josh Frydenberg losing his seat of Kooyong to independent Monique Ryan.

“I’m obviously devastated that Josh won’t be (in parliament). Josh was a huge part of the party’s future, and I certainly hope he still is in some way,” he said.

Mr Morrison said he had no plans to leave federal politics.

“(The Liberal Party) will regroup and focus again under new leadership and I look forward to giving that new leadership every support,” he said.

– AAP

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