Liberal Senator Nick Minchin confirms something we all knew anyway.

Opposition Senate leader Nick Minchin says former foreign minister Alexander Downer will leave Federal Parliament this year.

In the wake of the Coalition’s defeat last November, Mr Downer said he would decide on his political future within six months.

So far Mr Downer has made no announcement of any plan to retire.

But Senator Minchin says Mr Downer will quit the Parliament within a few months.

“My understanding it that he will be retiring from the seat of Mayo,” he said.

“He’ll be a great loss to the Coalition. He’s been Australia’s longest serving and most successful foreign minister.”

Now correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t going for lunch instead of attending question time and hosting a radio program in Adelaide while serving as a member of Parliament as close to retirement one can get without retiring? Or is it just taking the piss? And why does Nick Minchin think that just because he’s the longest serving Foreign Minister he can suck up a Parliamentary salary while looking for a post-Parliamentary job and not doing his Parliamentary duties?

Just piss off, Dolly. You’re wasting our time and money.

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I’m going to eat worms