Ever wondered what happens to former politicians? You won’t find a list as definitive as this one anywhere else.

Name Former position New job
Peter Adamson CLP Science Minister in NT Elected Darwin’s new mayor despite rival Dawn Laurie winning 15 of the 15 booths. But guess whose name was on the top of the alphabetical order ballot paper?
Mike Ahern Qld Nat – Premier Roving Queensland Ambassador in Asia.
Lynne Arnold SA Labor Premier Former CEO of World Vision Australia.
Doug Anthony Fed National Party leader Former director of Normandy Mining.
Larry Anthony Federal minister for Children and Youth Affairs A director of Australia’s largest childcare company, ABC Learning.
Brian Austen Qld Lib and Nat – Finance Minister Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency.
Dale Baker SA Liberal, Primary Industries Minister Agribusiness investor, winery owner.
Neil Batt Tas Labor deputy premier Former Chairman Armstrong Jones (formerly Heine), now health insurance lobbyist
Angelo Bertoni Qld Nat – Health Small business owner.
Paul Braddy Goss government Education & Police Minister and IR Minister for Beattie Director of Corporate Liason at Sky Channel, a wholly owned subidiary of TAB Ltd which was privatised by the Carr government.
Ray Braithwaite Low-profile Liberal frontbencher Resigned and parachuted on to the Productivity Commission.
Alan Brown Vic Liberal Transport Minister Big investor in Wonthaggi.
Brian Burke WA Labor Premier Out of jail, lobbyist with Julian Grill, consultant to CFMEU and political pundit.
John Button Fed Labor Industry Minister Chairman GBS Venture Partners
Kate Carnell ACT Liberal Chief Minister Just left National Association of Forest Industries to become a lobbyist for the doctors.
Fred Chaney Federal Deputy Liberal leader and Social Security Minister Chancellor of Murdoch University, Deputy President of the National Native Title Tribunal and Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia Ltd.
Yvonne Chapman Qld Nat – Transport and Ethnic Affairs Mayor of Pine Rivers Shire.
Mike Cleary ALP police and IR Minister in Queensland “Consultant” at Deacons Lawyers in Brisbane.
Pat Comben Qld ALP – Environment and Education Director Wildlife Preservation Society, Consultant for The Rowland Company, Environment Reporter Channel 7
David Connolly Federal Liberal Beaten for pre-selection after two decades in a Sydney blue-ribbon seat, had his pain eased with the job as South African high commissioner
Barry Coulter Former CLP deputy chief minister in the NT Now director of Capiteq, trading as Airnorth.
Greg Crafter ALP Minister in SA for 10 years under Bannon Has been a consultant lawyer at Johnston Withers since 1994 and is President of the International Baccalaureate Organisation – the latter might be voluntary, but at any rate he gets to fly to Europe at no cost several times a year.
Ken Davis Qld ALP Emergency Services, Consumer Affairs CEO Shire of Mornington.
John Dawkins Federal Labor Treasurer Director of St George Bank’s Sealcorp Mastertrust division and director of lobbyists Goverment Relations Australia. So much for a quiet life in the sticks making wine in South Australia.
Keith De Lacy Qld ALP – Treasurer Chairman of Ergon Energy, Trinity Funds Management, Director of QIC, Securities Exchange Guarantee Corporation, Cairns International University, Reef Casino Trust board.
Nick Dondas Former CLP Minister in the NT The former restaurateur now runs his own upmarket ‘corner shop’.
Sam Doumany Qld Lib, Attorney General Director Forbio Ltd, Berala Ltd, Bestway Pacific Ltd, Chairman Dairy Industry Authority 1985-91.
John Dowd Liberal Attorney General in NSW Appointed a justice of the Supreme court by the Greiner government after his stint in Macquarie Street.
Peter Dowding WA Labor Premier after Burke Barrister in Perth.
Bob Ellicott QC Attorney General in Fraser Government QC at the NSW Bar and member of the Australian Citizenship Council.
Paul Everingham First CLP Chief Minister in the NT Became a lawyer in Queensland then WA Liberal state director.
Robert Fordham Vic Labor Deputy Premier Head of Gippsland business association.
Bob Gibbs Qld ALP – Tourism, Sport and Racing Qld Trade Commissioner in LA
Robin Gray Tasmanian Liberal Premier Agribuisiness investor with Dale Baker and director of tree-lopping giant Gunns Ltd.
Wayne Goss Queensland Labor Premier Director Peplin Biotech and Webcentral, Adjunct Prof of Law at Qld Uni
Nick Greiner NSW Liberal Premier Multi-millionaire professional director.
Alan Griffiths ALP Federal Minister for Industry, famous for sandwich shop affair Dot com survivor.
Phil Gude Victorian Liberal Minister Partner in PR firm, professional director, chairman of privatised Victorian public transport company.
Bob Halverson Former Federal Liberal Speaker Being appointed Ambassador to Ireland by Howard softened the pain of being dumped as speaker.
Gerry Hand Federal Labor Immigration Minister Consultant, casino investor (Christmas Island).
Neville Harper Qld Nat. – Attorney-General, Primary Industries Jewellery shop owner.
Bob Hawke Labor PM Multi-millionaire property developer, investor, consultant on Asia.
Don Haywood Vic Liberal Education Minister Director of Abigroup, Melbourne Airport, Melbourne Zoo.
Dr John Hewson Fed Lib leader AFR columnist, former director CBD Online and Ticor Ltd
John Hodges QLD Federal Lib and former Fraser Immigration Minister Member of the Migration Agents Registration Scheme and paid chair of External Reference Group – Review of the Poits Test.
Rex Jackson NSW Labor Prisons Minister Hot dog stall proprietor in Heathcote but a bad back has seen his brother take over the operation. We’re not sure he has a pension because of the early release of prisoner bribery scandal that forced him to resign.
Gary Johns Queensland Labor and special minister of state in Keating Government Labor rat. Now a senior fellow of the IPA and regular newspaper columnist.
Rob Jolly Vic ALP Treasurer Environmental consultant, appointed by Bracks to government advisory body.
Mike Kaiser Qld Labor and former State Secretary PR consultant for CPR and then assistant National Secretary of ALP.
Paul Keating Federal Labor PM Multi-millionaire investor, regular newspaper letter writer and consultant specialising on Asia.
Ros Kelly Fed Labor Environment Minister Environmental consultant working for Dames & Moore.
Jim Kennan Vic Labor Attorney General Self-appointed QC, consultant specialising on India.
Jeff Kennett Vic Liberal Premier chairman of Beyond Blue and golf promoter.
Joan Kirner Vic Labor Premier Co-convenor of Emily’s List; Board member, Australian Children’s Television Foundation; Board member, Playbox Theatre; Matron, Living Museum of the West, the Women’s Circus and Positive Women (and others!).
Rob Knowles Vic Liberal Health Minister Former consultant to Macquarie Bank.
Jong Langmore Fed Labor backbencher Director, Social Development Division, United Nations, NY.
Michael Lavarch Fed Labor Attorney General “special counsel”, Dunhill Madden Butler (Now Deacons) in Brisbane till August 2001 and now Secretary-General of the Law Council of Australia.
Bruce Lloyd Federal National Party MP Chairman of the Landcare Council.
Michael Lee Federal Labor Communications and Arts Minister Failed Sydney Lord Mayor candidate, director of Integral Energy.
Jim Longley Greiner’s NSW Community Services Minister Now a senior executive with the Commonwealth Bank.
Stephen Loosely ALP Federal Secretary and Senator James Hardie lobbyist, PwC Partner, contributor to several News Ltd papers and board member of NRL
Wendy Machin NSW Consumer Affairs Minister Corporate affairs for SCI, world’s biggest funeral parlour company.
Steve Martin Federal ALP Speaker Now vice chancellor of Victoria University.
Ian McLachlan Federal Liberal Defence Minister Resigned and quickly emerged as chairman of the Wool Industry Task Force.
Tony Messner Federal Liberal MP Appointed administrator of Norfolk Island and another former Howard flatmate to score a cushy job.
Glen Milliner Qld ALP – Corrective and Admin Services Consultant.
Wal Murray NSW Nat Leader, Deputy Premier Moree fish shop proprietor.
Peter Nixon Fed National Primary Industries Minister Now retired chairman of Southern Cross Broadcasting and appointed by Howard as chairman of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. Also a former deputy chairman of Bob Ansett’s failed Budget Corp.
Bill O’Chee National Party senator from Queensland Set up a failed web company B2G whilst driving a Green Maserati, refusing to pay his wife or the rent and living off his $43,000 a year pension at the ripe old age of 34.
Stephen O’Doherty Shadow Liberal Minister for Education in NSW CEO Christian Schools of Australia and 2GB presenter.
Max Ortman CLP Minister in the NT The man who famously tried to strangle The 7.30 Report’s Jeremy Thompson now runs a building supplies business called Permaline.
Andrew Peacock Federal Liberal Foreign Affairs Chairman of Boeing Australia.
Marshall Perron CLP chief minister in the NT Now ‘consultant’ to motor sport – particular involvement in the V8 touring cars.
Ron Phillips NSW Liberal Health Minister Consultant for health and aged care.
Michael Photius Lib Transport Minister in NSW Consultant to people like Frank Lowy’s Westfield group.
Neil Pope Vic Labor IR Minister IR consultant.
Lionel Powell Qld Nat – Education Teacher.
Jim Randell Qld Nat – Local Govt, Racing and Housing Sugar farming.
Chris Puplick Liberal Senator former head of NSW Anti-Discrimination body.
Peter Reith Federal Defence Minister Takes a consultancy with Australia’s biggest defence contractor a couple of days after retiring as Defence Minister. Now in London with the European Bank of Reconstruction.
Graham Richardson Federal Labor, Communications and Health Minister Kerry Packer’s political fixer.
Alan Rocher Dumped Federal Lib from WA and Howard mate Despite running as an independent against the Liberal Party Rocher was still appointed by Howard as consul-general in Los Angeles.
Tom Roper Vic Labor Treasurer Worked in Canada and London, tutored new Bracks ministers on how to be ministers.
Susan Ryan Fed Labor Education Minister Head of superannuation association.
Mal Sandon Vic Labor Police Minister Honorary adviser to Vic Transport Minister.
Les Scott Former member for Oxley after Hayden and before Hanson Now a Brisbane-based mortgage broker.
Terry Sheahan Labor Minister in NSW Appointed by Labor a Judge on the Land & Environment Court of NSW.
Jim Short Former Federal Liberal Assistant Treasurer Another former Howard flatmate and now chairman of the microscope technology manufacturer IATIA. After quitting over a conflict of interest from owning ANZ shares, Howard appointed him executive director of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development in Paris which just happened to be where his son Michael worked for Bloomberg.
Kerry Sibraa Fed Labor Senate President Director of Zimplats Ltd
Warwick Smith Fed Liberal Sports Minister Head of external relations with Macquarie Bank
John Spender Federal Liberal MP Given the plum posting of Ambassador to France which his famous fashion designing wife Carla Zampatti just loved. Carla was also appointed chairman of SBS.
Alan Stockdale Vic Liberal Treasurer Head of external relations at Macquarie Infrastructure Group.
Shane Stone CLP Chief Minister in the NT Became Federal President of the Liberal Party.
Bill Taylor Queensland Liberal Appointed administrator of the Indian Ocean territories.
Barry Unsworth NSW Labor Premier Director of Tempo Services, cleaner of all NSW government schools.
Evan Walker Vic Labor Planning Minister Visiting professor at Melbourne Uni, consultant to Bracks government.
Robert Webster NSW Nat, Planning Minister Executive director of International Banking Association, dir MMI, Mirvac Property Trust, Rothmans.
Gary West (NSW National, Energy Minister) Corporate and government affairs chief at Unilever.
David White Vic Labor Industry Minister Chairman Connex Trains, door opener in Melbourne for Hawker Britten
Terry White Qld Lib Leader, Welfare Minister Chairman Faulding Retail Board, Director of White Retail Group, President Pharmacy Guild. Owner Terry White Pharmacy chain. Rob Borbidge appointed him to the Queensland WorkCover board and Beattie reappointed him.
Michael Wooldridge Federal Liberal Health Minister Approves $5 million in funding to the College of GPs and then takes a consultancy with them a few weeks later.
Neville Wran NSW Labor Premier Multi-millionaire consultant, merchant banker, director Webcentral and Cabcharge.
Michael Yabsley NSW Lib Corrective Services Minister Paid Liberal fundraiser and lobbyist.