Mr Cormann announced that he would pursue the nomination following his departure from Parliament on 30 October, with senator Simon Birmingham – currently minister for trade, tourism and investment – tapped to fill the gap. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the nomination was part of Australia’s growing interest in “taking a position in the areas where we could add the most value”.
“We believe this is an area where we can add that value, and I know that Matthias Cormann is just the person to ensure that we will add that value should we get the support of the requisite members of the OECD to do that job,” he said.
Fresh off Australia’s first pandemic budget, Mr Cormann said the nomination was a “great honour” and praised the OECD as “one of the most consequential international economic policy and governance bodies in the world today”.
“Through its work over the past six decades it makes a difference to the lives of billions of people all around the world,” Mr Cormann said.
“The OECD helps to improve living standards, build social cohesion, strengthen environmental performance – not just in its own member countries but in its work in countries all around the world.”
Australia has fared better than most of the OECD countries, coming out on top of the UK (which is expected to see a more than 10 per cent GDP contraction), France (10.5 per cent), and Germany (5.4 per cent). That fact alone will bolster Mr Cormann’s case, but the nomination will still have to win the support of Labor – still smarting from then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s decision not to back Kevin Rudd for the role of UN secretary-general in 2016 – and the wider OECD Council.
