Scott Morrison, the former Prime Minister of Australia, has received the prestigious Companion of the Order of Australia in this year’s King’s Birthday honours. He is among 14 individuals bestowed with this honour, joining notable figures such as film director Baz Luhrmann, costume designer Catherine Martin, business leader Jennifer Westacott, and former CSIRO chair Kathryn Fagg.
Governor-General Samantha Mostyn stated, “These honours recognise the selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity, and care that flourish across our country.” Morrison was acknowledged specifically for his distinguished service to the people and parliament of Australia, his significant contributions to global engagement, and his leadership during the national COVID-19 response, alongside advancing economic initiatives and national security enhancements, particularly relating to the AUKUS pact with the United States and the United Kingdom.
Morrison served as Prime Minister from 2018 until the Coalition’s defeat in the 2022 election, notably leading the Liberals and Nationals to an unexpected victory in the 2019 election. Under his administration, the nation recorded one of the lowest COVID-19 fatality rates worldwide. However, his tenure was not without controversy; he faced backlash for taking a family holiday in Hawaii during the devastating Black Summer bushfires, along with his infamous remark, “I don’t hold a hose.” Questions were also raised about the slow procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.
In addition, as social services minister, Morrison was implicated in the robodebt scheme, with a royal commission finding he had failed his responsibilities and misled cabinet. He, however, has rejected these claims as unfounded. The most significant controversy arose after his premiership when it was revealed that he had secretly sworn himself into five ministries during the pandemic, often without the knowledge of the ministers in those roles.
The tradition of awarding former prime ministers the Companion of the Order of Australia has been in place since 1975, with Paul Keating being the only one to decline the honour in 1997. This year’s honours also featured collaborative power couple Luhrmann and Martin, renowned for films such as Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby, and Strictly Ballroom. Other honourees include Nicole Livingstone, a former Olympic swimmer and ex-AFLW manager, who received the Officer of the Order of Australia, along with Bruce Gordon, a principal shareholder of Nine Entertainment.