Office facilities were the highest expense recorded in the report for each former PM. Tony Abbott declared $229,221, and John Howard claimed $215,030 for his office this year. They are also based in Sydney, where CBD commercial real estate is expensive.
Kevin Rudd, 68, and Gillard are both based overseas, which could contribute to their lower spending.
Rudd, who retains a government post as Australian ambassador to the United States, has spent $129,612 this year in his capacity as a former prime minister.
Paul Keating and Abbott are entitled to pensions of about $300,000 per year, Howard’s is $345,000, and News Corp has estimated Rudd’s and Gillard’s to be about $200,000 per year each. The PMs can take it as an annual payment for life or opt for half that amount yearly plus an initial lump sum.
The pensions were a form of superannuation to support politicians after they exited politics, until Howard changed the rules in 2006 because the entitlements were seen to be too generous.
Since then, MPs elected after 2004 receive a standard superannuation fund, albeit with a 15 per cent Commonwealth contribution.
Turnbull and Morrison were the first national leaders to leave office without the pension. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be entitled to it because he was elected in 1996.
Abbott, 68, has previously criticised the Howard-era changes and called for the pension to be reinstated, so politicians could have financial security in retirement and prevent ministers and prime ministers from making government decisions with “one eye towards future job prospects”.
Outside his duties as a former prime minister Turnbull, 71, is a start-up investor, president of the International Hydropower Association, and public speaker.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is the president of the International Hydropower Association.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Morrison, 57, announced his new jobs when he retired from politics in 2024, including vice chair of corporate advisory firm American Global Strategies; a strategic adviser to venture capital company DYNE Maritime, which invests in technologies related to the AUKUS military pact; and an advisory board post for the Centre for a New American Security.
Morrison has spent $207,042 this year in his capacity as a former prime minister.
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Gillard, 64, is chair of the Wellcome Trust, a charitable scientific organisation, a global institute for women’s leadership and a renewables-focused investment platform.
John Howard, 86, has spent the most on travel this year, including more than $12,000 on flights and more than $18,000 on car costs for a monthly $1290 lease and Commonwealth cars when interstate.
A spokeswoman for Howard said: “All of the expenses that are incurred by Mr Howard’s office are in line with the office of a former prime minister’s entitlement.”
Keating, Rudd, Morrison, Abbott and Gillard’s offices did not respond to a request for comment.
The number of living former prime ministers has swelled since Rudd and Gillard ousted each other in quick succession and Abbott was dumped after less than two years in the job. The number of former leaders is not unprecedented: there were eight former prime ministers while Ben Chifley was in office in 1947.
Paul Keating, 81, claimed no commercial transport expenses this year, but spent the most on telecommunications at $2342.87. He has been an investor and public intellectual since leaving office.
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