In earlier times, former prime ministers weren’t in a rush to leave parliament once they had been relieved of that role by voters or their party. During the second world war, for example, former PM James Scullin, who remained in office for nearly two decades after losing the 1932 election, was able to be a confidant to John Curtin during some of the war’s darkest days.

But as Paul Strangio writes, since the 1980s, deposed leaders have tended to make a hasty exit from the house on the hill. Why? “The media are quick to portray them as an unhelpful distraction or curiosity, while opponents point-score off them,” Strangio argues. “Better they are out of the way.”

Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, for example, left parliament soon after defeat. Later, Julia Gillard would do the same, as did Kevin Rudd (albeit after staying on to claim the leadership a second time). John Howard, meanwhile, had the decision taken out of his hands by losing his seat of Bennelong in the 2007 election.

There have been some exceptions. Tony Abbott hung around after being defeated by Malcolm Turnbull for the party’s leadership, until he lost his seat in the 2019 election. In contrast, says Strangio, “after being dumped from the leadership in favour of Morrison in August 2018, (Turnbull) tendered his resignation as the member for Wentworth within a week”.

Another reason for the typically quick departure of former PMs is that post-parliamentary life offers opportunities that were not available to earlier leaders.

So why does Scott Morrison hang on as the member for Cook after losing the prime ministership in the 2022 election? Well, Strangio has some thoughts about that, too.

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