Mathias Cormann

Mathias Hubert Paul Cormann[1] (/məˈtiːəs ˈkɔːrmən/; German: [maˈtiːas ˈkɔʁman]; born 20 September 1970) is an Australian Liberal Party politician serving as Minister for Finance since 2013 and as a Senator for Western Australia since 2007. Cormann is Australia’s longest-serving Minister for Finance, having served in the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Governments since 2013. He served as Minister for the Public Service from 2018 to 2019.[2]

Senator The Honourable

Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance
Assumed office
18 September 2013
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
Preceded byPenny Wong
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Assumed office
20 December 2017
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
Preceded byGeorge Brandis
Leader of the Government in the Senate
Assumed office
20 December 2017
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
DeputyMitch Fifield
Simon Birmingham
Preceded byGeorge Brandis
Special Minister of State
Assumed office
29 May 2019
Prime MinisterScott Morrison
Preceded byAlex Hawke
In office
13 November 2017 – 23 August 2018
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Preceded byScott Ryan
Succeeded byAlex Hawke
In office
18 February 2016 – 19 July 2016
Acting: 29 December 2015 – 18 February 2016
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Preceded byMal Brough
Succeeded byScott Ryan
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office
20 September 2015 – 20 December 2017
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
LeaderGeorge Brandis
Preceded byGeorge Brandis
Succeeded byMitch Fifield
Senator for Western Australia
Assumed office
19 June 2007
Preceded byIan Campbell
Personal details
Born
Mathias Hubert Paul Cormann

(1970-09-20) 20 September 1970
Eupen, Liège, Belgium
CitizenshipAustralian (2000–present)
Belgian (1970–2000)
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
Other political
affiliations		Christian Social Party
Alma materUniversité de Namur
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
ProfessionLawyer
Websitewww.mathiascormann.com.au

On 20 September 2015 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull promoted Cormann to the position of Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate.[3] He also served as Special Minister of State from 2015 to 2016, 2017 to 2018 and since 2019. in the First Turnbull Ministry.[4][5] Cormann is currently serving as the Leader of the Government in the Senate and the Vice-President of the Executive Council.[6]

In July 2020, Cormann announced that he would step down from politics before the end of the year, but would remain as minister to finalise the government's budget update in July, the 2020–21 federal budget in October and the half-yearly budget update in December.[7][8]

Early life

Cormann was born on 20 September 1970 in Eupen, Belgium, within the country's German-speaking Community.[9] He is the oldest of four children and only son born to Hildegard and Herbert Cormann.[10] Cormann grew up in the village of Raeren, around 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the German border. At the time of his birth, his father worked as a turner at a factory in Germany. When he was ten years old, his father spent six months in hospital with a severe illness that left him unable to work; he subsequently became an alcoholic but recovered.[10][11] The family relied on a disability pension and assistance from the local Catholic church, where Cormann served as an altar boy.[12]

After beginning his education locally, Cormann completed his secondary schooling in Liège, where he learnt French as a second language.[10] He went on to the University of Namur, where he attained the degree of candidate in law.[9] In 1989, he and some university friends drove to Berlin to witness the Fall of the Berlin Wall. He has cited his experiences of the systems used in East and West Germany as influential in his political development.[12] Cormann later undertook law graduate studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, attaining the degree of licentiate and learning Flemish.[9][13] He learned English as a fourth language in 1993 while on an Erasmus Programme exchange to the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.[10]

Early career and move to Australia

Cormann's parents were not politically active.[12] He nonetheless joined the German-speaking Christian Social Party (CSP) at a young age and was elected to Raeren's municipal council at the age of 21.[10] He later worked in Brussels as an assistant to Mathieu Grosch, who represented Belgium's German-speaking electoral college in the European Parliament.[12][14] In 1995, he was associated with Joëlle Milquet's campaign for the presidency of the French-speaking Christian Social Party (PSC).[15]

During his time studying in England, Cormann began a relationship with an Australian woman. He first came to Australia in June 1994 to visit her family in Perth. Their relationship did not continue, but after returning to Belgium to complete his studies he decided to move to Australia permanently.[12] He settled in Perth in July 1996, aged 25, initially working as a gardener at Presbyterian Ladies' College as his Belgian law degrees were not recognised.[16] Cormann then cold-called Senator Chris Ellison, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on treaties, and asked to work in his office as a volunteer. After two weeks he secured a paid position as a staffer.[12]

Through Ellison, Cormann began to develop connections in the Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australian Division).[12] From 1997 to 2000 he worked as chief of staff to Rhonda Parker, the state minister for family and children's services. He later worked as senior adviser to Premier Richard Court (2000–2001) before returning to work for Ellison after his appointment as federal justice minister. Cormann was elected to the Liberal Party's state council in 2000. He served as a vice-president of the party from 2003 to 2004 and as senior vice-president from 2004 to 2008.[9]

In 2003, Cormann joined HBF as health services manager in its health insurance division. He was general manager of its Healthguard division from 2004 to 2006 before rejoining the health insurance division as acting general manager from 2006 to 2007.[9]

Federal politics
Cormann in 2007
See also: Abbott Government, Turnbull Government, and Morrison Government

Opposition (2007–2013)

Cormann's preselection for the coveted third position on the Liberal Senate ticket for the 2007 election was all but assured, at the expense of controversial Senator Ross Lightfoot, who withdrew from the preselection race and resigned from politics when he realised the numbers were against him. On the ABC's Stateline program on 27 April 2007, Lightfoot stated that he considered Cormann (although he stopped short of naming him) an "inappropriate person" to replace him. Lightfoot's main complaint was that there were "more appropriate people" to succeed him "who have served the party longer" and "who have been in the country longer".[17]

When Senator Ian Campbell unexpectedly announced his planned resignation on 4 May 2007, Cormann was quickly preselected by the party to fill the resulting casual vacancy.[16] Campbell formally resigned on 31 May 2007. Cormann was sworn in on 20 June 2007 and served the remaining four years of Ian Campbell's term until 2011. On 21 August 2010 Cormann was re-elected for a further six-year term as Senator for Western Australia and again on 2 July 2016.[9]

In Opposition, Cormann served as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health Administration (2008–09), Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Apprenticeships and Training (2009–2010) and as Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation (2010–2013). In the Senate he chaired the Fuel and Energy Select Committee (2008–2010)[18] and the Scrutiny of New Taxes Committee (2010–2011).

Government (2013–present)
Cormann in 2016

When the Coalition won government in 2013, Cormann became the Finance Minister, a role which he has held since under Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. Although he publicly supported Abbott in the 2015 leadership spill,[19] Cormann was promoted by Turnbull to take on the additional roles of Special Minister of State in 2016, and Leader of the Government in the Senate in 2017.

As government leader in the upper house, Cormann became third in line to serve as acting prime minister when necessary. He fulfilled this role for several days in February 2018, during a unique set of circumstances in which Prime Minister Turnbull made a state visit to the United States, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce took personal leave amid scandal surrounding an affair with a staffer, and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Julie Bishop made official visits to Europe in her role as Foreign Minister.[20]

Cormann with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the 2018 G20 Buenos Aires summit

Cormann played a key role during the Liberal Party leadership spills in August 2018.[21] He voted for Turnbull against Peter Dutton in the first spill on 21 August, and the following day publicly pledged his support for him to remain as prime minister, stating "I will continue to serve him loyally into the future" at a press conference alongside Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison.[22] However, on 23 August Cormann issued a joint statement with Mitch Fifield and Michaelia Cash withdrawing their support, stating that "we went to see the PM yesterday afternoon to advise him that in our judgement, he no longer enjoyed the majority of support of Liberal members". They also announced that they had offered their resignations from cabinet.[23] In the second spill on 24 August, he supported Peter Dutton against Scott Morrison and Julie Bishop.[24]

During the leadership conflict, Cormann was removed as Leader of the Government in the Senate but was not formally removed from his cabinet portfolios. He retained the finance portfolio in the first Morrison Ministry, resuming his prior title of Minister for Finance, and was also reinstated as Senate leader.[9]

In October 2019, Cormann became the longest-serving Finance Minister, having surpassed the record previously held by Nick Minchin.[25]

In July 2020, Cormann announced that he would step down from politics by the end of the year, but would remain as minister to finalise the government's July budget update, the 2020–21 federal budget in October and the half-yearly budget update in December. His resignation will trigger a cabinet reshuffle and a casual vacancy in the Senate.[8]

Political views

Cormann is a free market economic and fiscal conservative. As a Senator, in Opposition and in Government, he has been a consistent advocate for lower taxes, smaller government, open markets and free trade.[26][27] Within the Liberal Party he is associated with the economic dries.[28]

While Cormann personally opposed same-sex marriage and in 2017 argued "for a postal vote plebiscite to be held before a parliamentary vote on the issue", after that survey went ahead and found most Australians support same-sex marriage, Cormann chose to vote in favour of the bill legalising same-sex marriage.[29][30]

Cormann is a constitutional monarchist.[31]

Personal life

Cormann, a Roman Catholic,[32] is married to Hayley, a lawyer. They have two daughters.[33]

Cormann became an Australian citizen on Australia Day in 2000, which resulted in the automatic loss of his Belgian citizenship. This was re-confirmed prior to nominating for preselection as a candidate for the Senate.[34]

Cormann obtained a private pilot's licence in 2001.[35]

Honours
Cormann with Angela Merkel (front row) and the Australia-Germany Advisory Group in 2015

In January 2018, Cormann was awarded with the rank of Grand Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by Ambassador Anna Prinz on behalf of the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier for his work "in advancing German-Australian relations."[36]

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References
  1. "Biography for CORMANN, the Hon. Mathias Hubert Paul". parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  2. "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  3. "Transcript: Changes to the ministry". Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  4. Massola, James (13 February 2016). "Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull announces new frontbench as Mal Brough resigns". The Age. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  5. "Ministerial Swearing-in Ceremony". Events. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  6. Turnbull, Malcolm (19 December 2017). "Ministerial Arrangements" (Press release). Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018. Mathias Cormann will take on the additional role Special Minister of State. Mathias’s expanded portfolio is testament to his outstanding performance as a Cabinet Minister. Senator Brandis' position as Leader of the Senate will be filled by Senator Cormann, who has been integral in steering the Government’s agenda through the Senate. His determination and his counsel are invaluable.
  7. https://www.financeminister.gov.au/media-release/2020/07/04/statement
  8. "Finance Minister Mathias Cormann to quit federal politics by end of year". ABC News. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  9. "Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  10. Chadwick, Vince (20 October 2013). "It takes a Belgian village to raise an antipodean finance minister". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  11. Patrick, Aaron (23 March 2018). "Mathias Cormann talks God, politics and mayonnaise - but some topics are taboo". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  12. Kitney, Geoff (2 May 2014). "Mathias Cormann: A tale of two lives". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  13. "Alumnus Mathias Cormann tapped for ministerial post 'down under'". KU Leuven. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  14. "Van de Hoge Venen naar de Australische top" in De Standaard, 18 September 2013
  15. Georis, Vincent (17 February 2018). "Le Belge Mathias Cormann à la tête de l'Australie". L'Echo (in French). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  16. O'Brien, Amanda (7 May 2007). "Ex-gardener lands Senate spot". The Australian. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
  17. Carmody, Rebecca (27 April 2007). "Controversial Liberal Senator Ross Lightfoot calls it a day". Stateline (TV program)-Western Australia. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  18. Senate Select Committee on Fuel and Energy: Committee membership Archived 22 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine,
  19. Michelle Grattan (14 September 2015). "Malcolm Turnbull ousts Tony Abbott in dramatic party coup". The Conversation.
  20. Farr, Malcolm (20 February 2018). "Senator Mathias Cormann named Acting PM as top ranks head out of the country". news.com.au.
  21. Probyn, Andrew (22 August 2018). "Kingmaker Mathias Cormann caught between loyalty to Malcolm Turnbull and friendship with Peter Dutton". ABC News. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  22. "Peter Dutton poised to launch second challenge to kill off Malcolm Turnbull's prime ministership". ABC News. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  23. "Malcolm Turnbull should resign, Mathias Cormann says; Scott Morrison set to run against Peter Dutton". ABC News. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  24. Probyn, Andrew (27 August 2018). "Mathias Cormann could have made one phone call to change the course of history". ABC News. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  25. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Fcormann-the-rock-becomes-longestserving-finance-minister%2Fnews-story%2Fc5575677de5e7d33dffd3c7558b41b6e&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium
  26. https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/2007-08-15/0194%22
  27. https://www.financeminister.gov.au/speech/2017/08/23/speech-sydney-institute
  28. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mathias-cormann-a-tale-of-two-lives-20140502-zr37g.html
  29. Koziol, ,Michael (29 November 2017). "Coalition to test Labor again over same-sex marriage as bill heads to lower house". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  30. Matthew Knott (22 March 2017). "Peter Dutton working behind the scenes to legislate same-sex marriage before CEO spray". The Sydny Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  31. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-18/bill-shorten-offers-to-help-malcolm-turnbull-with-republic-push/8130192
  32. "Coalition celebrates a religious Easter: Eight of 19 cabinet members are Catholic". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  33. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. "Senator Cormann's citizenship". 18 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  35. Bourke, Latika (16 September 2013). "Tony Abbott to unveil ministry: Mathias Cormann to be promoted, Bronwyn Bishop nominated for Speaker". ABC News. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  36. AAP (31 January 2018). "Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has been presented with Germany's Grand Cross of the Order of Merit". Special Broadcasting Service. SBS News. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Ian Campbell		 Senator for Western Australia
2007–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Alex Hawke		 Special Minister of State
2019–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Himself		 Minister for Finance
2018–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
George Brandis		 Leader of the Government in the Senate
2017–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Scott Ryan		 Special Minister of State
2017–2018		 Succeeded by
Alex Hawke
Preceded by
George Brandis		 Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
2015–2017		 Succeeded by
Mitch Fifield
Preceded by
Mal Brough		 Special Minister of State
2016		 Succeeded by
Scott Ryan
Preceded by
Penny Wong		 Minister for Finance
2013–2018		 Succeeded by
Himself
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