Former prime minister Scott Morrison will deliver his final speech to parliament at midday today as he retires from politics to move into the private sector.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday ahead of his valedictory speech, Morrison said Julia Gillard is the prime minister whose conduct after leaving office he most wanted to follow.
“It is widely respected the way that Julia Gillard has conducted herself, post-prime ministership, whatever view people have on her prime ministership, positive and negative,” he said.
Morrison first entered federal parliament in 2007, before making it into cabinet as immigration minister in 2013 under Tony Abbott.
He then held the social services portfolio before a three-year stint as treasurer when Abbott was replaced by Malcolm Turnbull as PM.
Stopping the boats to Hawaiian holidays: Morrison’s career
When Turnbull’s support within the Liberal Party fell apart in 2018, it was Morrison who won the race to take over as leader, and he led the Coalition to a surprise victory in the 2019 federal election.
As prime minister, Morrison helped create the AUKUS agreement that will see Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines in cooperation with the United States and United Kingdom, and established national cabinet.
He came under heavy scrutiny, though, for his response to the 2019-20 black summer bushfires, as well as the delays Australia faced in acquiring COVID-19 vaccines, although Australia’s pandemic has otherwise been largely lauded.
He has served as a backbencher since losing the 2022 election, and his departure will trigger a by-election for his southern Sydney seat of Cook.
While largely keeping a low profile since the 2022 election, Morrison faced intense criticism during the period for incidents earlier in his political career.
He defended his conduct in both matters.
