Malcolm Turnbull has gifted his good friend and close political ally George Brandis the plum job of Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Attorney-General Brandis, 60, is reportedly set to quit the Senate and take up the top diplomat role in London – triggering a cabinet reshuffle before Christmas.
He will replace Alexander Downer and live rent-free at Stoke Lodge, a taxpayer-funded $30 million five-bedroom mansion near Buckingham Palace in London.
The move was met with outrage online, as social media users accused Brandis of being a ‘self-entitled prat… leeching off the public purse’.
George Brandis has been gifted the plum job of Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
The move was met with outrage online, as social media users accused Brandis of being a ‘self-entitled prat’
‘George Brandis seeing the light, bailing out … he can see the ship’s sinking, good old Liberal tradition, self survival,’ one man wrote on Facebook.
‘Will no doubt draw his fat six-figure parliamentary pension and bank his six-figure salary for his new job at the same time. It never ends,’ added another.
Other social media users took advantage of the occasion to bring up Brandis’ controversial use of taxpayer dollars to buy a second custom-built bookcase.
Brandis spent more than $15,000 to secure the bookcase, which was able to split into three parts in the event he needed to relocate his collection of law reports.
‘How much will it cost the Australian taxpayers to move George Brandis’ library and books to London when he takes up his new position?,’ asked one user.
Mr Brandis will likely earn more than the man he is replacing, Alexander Downer, who enjoyed $208,000 a year in parliamentary pension as well as a $276,000 salary.
His combined income could be in excess of $500,000 a year.
Brandis will live rent-free at Stoke Lodge (pictured), a taxpayer-funded $30 million five-bedroom mansion near Buckingham Palace in London
The decision for Brandis to replace Alexander Downer is expected to be confirmed in a reshuffle by Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday, according to News Corp.
The prime minister is also understood to be considering returning former minister Sussan Ley to the ministry.
Liberal MP Tim Wilson could not confirm Senator Brandis’ move but conceded there would be a reshuffle this week.
‘The reality is governments always need a bit of a refresh mid-term,’ he told Sky News.
New deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie is expected to be promoted to cabinet in the shake-up, to take the spot left by Fiona Nash who was disqualified for being a dual citizen.
Scott Ryan’s move replacing Stephen Parry as Senate president, after he was also disqualified, has created another cabinet vacancy.
There are also questions over the ministerial future of Arthur Sinodinos, who is battling illness.
Mr Brandis will likely earn more than the man he is replacing, Alexander Downer, and could end up securing over $500,000 a year