PM Scott Morrison

10 Reasons to (Still) Thank God for Scott Morrison

31 May 2022

7.8 MINS

As a Christian, I believe that God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men (e.g. Daniel 2:20-21) which is why I can have confidence in praying for those whom the LORD has appointed to lead (Proverbs 21:1; 1 Tim. 2:1-3). Because this is the case, all election results are under His divine control, and I need not ever despair.

Like so many, I was deeply disappointed in the Morrison government and their failure to protect freedom of conscience, speech and most of all, religion. But as someone who — along with every other believer — prayed for him during his time as Prime Minister, I believe that God heard and answered those prayers.

 

While there’s obviously more than one reason why the Coalition lost office recently, what follows is my attempt at summarising what a Morrison legacy might possibly be, or at the very least, some of the things one could be genuinely grateful to God for.

1. Political Pragmatism

While many would view this as his greatest weakness, it could also be taken as his greatest strength. And that is, rather than being driven by ideology or conviction, Morrison was a classic political pragmatist. This obviously frustrated everyone on the right and the left, but Scott Morrison was able to negotiate with people on all sides of politics.

While he might have personally acknowledged that he could be “a bit of a bulldozer”, tough times call for tough people. Especially in the arena of Australian politics when passing legislation. This also goes a long way in understanding why so many centre-left and progressive Christians hated him. As Jonathan Cole explains:

Morrison is a classic Pentecostal, who (with apologies to my Pentecostal friends) wouldn’t   understand the meaning of the word “subtle” if it slapped him in the face, is possessed of an utterly inexhaustible high-octane energetic optimism, even when the house is burning down around him, is overconfident in many respects and is thoroughly results-oriented, in a rather pragmatic sense. He is also a classic middle-aged bogan from the Shire.

Put these two together and everything about him is designed to inspire the ire, if not the outright hatred, of an extremely educated class that likes to think of themselves as cultured, is utterly obsessed with tone and rhetoric and which is desperate to prove that Christianity can be a constructive partner in building a harmonious pluralistic secular world with non-Christian partners.

In short, Scomo (sic) was an embarrassment to them and an obstacle to their public theology project. I truly think that, had Morrison been an atheist, the hatred would not have reached pathological levels, because Christians on the left would not have been tainted by association.

2. Stable Party Leadership

Following on from the first point, it seems that nearly everyone has forgotten the turmoil of the Rudd—Gillard—Rudd—Abbott—Turnbull years with its revolving door of party leadership. That’s five leaders in five years, which meant that Morrison became the longest-serving Australian Prime Minister since John Howard. It got so bad at one stage, that Australia was being referred to internationally as the ‘Coup Capital of the Pacific’.

Significantly, Morrison provided the kind of stable leadership in which he not only remained in office for the entire term, but there were never even any rumblings within his own party for a change. With the Liberal Party morphing into a proverbial ‘broad church’, Morrison provided them with a unity that very few others could have achieved as effectively.

3. Decisive Response to COVID-19

Once again, it’s easy to forget this, but it was the Morrison-led government that took the unprecedented step of closing our borders and shutting down international travel so that the virus didn’t spread. While in hindsight there’s a lot that could have been done differently, it’s important to give credit to Morrison for his decisive political response, especially when so many overseas were criticising President Trump for being xenophobic for making a similar decision. What’s more, no national leader before has faced a revolt from State Premiers eager to flex their political muscle in policing their own borders while continuing to rely on federal funding to do so.

4. Prudent Economic Management

While I recognise that this point will be hotly contested, I think that the Morrison government demonstrated wise economic management, especially in the wake of a worldwide pandemic. Morrison provided generous economic support to both individuals and businesses in response to a virus that brought the world financially to its knees.

In a sign of what I like to refer to as ‘white-collar privilege’, it was interesting to observe how blithely so many millennials take for granted a genuinely unprecedented twenty-seven years (and counting) of economic growth Australia is enjoying. This means that a growing proportion of the population has no idea what life is like under high interest rates.

While many conservative commentators will argue — rightly in my opinion — that the Morrison government offered too much assistance, it’s worth reflecting how a Labor government would have responded in a similar situation. That’s not as difficult as it might seem, since Albanese announced that he would have paid people $300 each to take them.

5. An (Attempted) Religious Freedom Bill

The reason why I list this point as a positive, rather than as a negative (since the legislation ultimately failed) is because at least Morrison gave it a go. You can bet that Labor, the Greens — as well as any other colour of Teal in the rainbow spectrum — won’t be as bold or as helpful. If you want evidence as to why this particular issue is pertinent (you know, apart from Israel Folau, Margaret Court etc.) then one only needs to look at how the former Prime Minister of Australia was himself treated while in office.

As Australia’s first Pentecostal PM, Morrison was routinely condemned for progressive heresies such as enthusiastically praising God at church. In a now ‘iconic’ photo, ScMo was pictured as sincerely lifting his hands to the Almighty. Maybe if the public display of worship was at a footy game with him supporting his beloved Sharks, then it might have been excused. But it seems that our media elite have zero tolerance for politicians personally believing in a God and prefer them to be religious hypocrites.

6. Personal and Professional Humility

When the former Prime Minister committed the unforgivable political sin of taking an annual holiday with his family during the height of a national emergency — of which the State Premiers had complete responsibility for and control — then he was metaphorically crucified. ‘ScoMo’ has even been immortalised in Pauline Hanson’s popular satirical cartoon series, Please Explain, as always wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Although, it looks more and more likely that Ms Hanson herself will be enjoying an extended political holiday.

‘ScoMo’ ended up being blamed for every natural disaster under the sun while he was Prime Minister; from bushfires to floods. While the optics were not good, I’m not sure most Australians were as upset about this event as many in the MSM tried to say. But at least he had to humility to unreservedly apologise and admit that he made the wrong call politically.

7. A Gracious Response to Ungracious Opponents

Grace Tame’s infamous ‘side-eye’ sneer calculated for maximum media publicity was anything but ‘tame’, let alone ‘gracious’. And for a former Australian of the Year recipient to behave in such a way while being an invited guest of a sitting Prime Minister was in my opinion, not just rude, but disgraceful (pun intended). However, Scott Morrison responded incredibly well to the most insulting gesture towards our country’s highest official I have ever witnessed.

8. A Model Marriage

One of the lasting legacies that I think Scott Morrison has provided for us as a nation though, is a model marriage. More exemplifies the nostalgic ideal of a bygone era: marrying your childhood sweetheart, buying a house in the suburbs, having a couple of kids, and going to the footy on the weekend. Not many people will say this, but it stands in stark contrast to the less than ideal example of both Julia Gillard and Anthony Albanese who had/have their ‘partners’ — as opposed to spouses — reside with them in the Lodge.

Maybe this is because when Australia re-defined the meaning of marriage, they didn’t just extend it to people of the same sex — it became ultimately devalued. It’s important that the leader of any nation model the virtues that the rest of the country should seek to emulate. If stable marriages and their resulting families are the basic building blocks of a society, then Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny have functioned as shining lights, and their displays of public charity and hospitality are beginning to receive the recognition they deserve.

9. Tough Stance on China

If COVID-19 taught the world anything, it was the geopolitical threat that Communist China posed; the proverbial two-thousand-pound red panda in the room. The Morrison government was the first time an Australian political leader was prepared to push back while many others were being wined and dined via the infamous Belt-and-Road initiative. It should always be remembered that it was Scott Morrison who alone — back in April 2020 — demonstrated the political courage to ask for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

This decision alone (as reasonable and fair-minded as it is) has already cost Australia enormously in the way of trade sanctions. History will record though, that it was Scott Morrison and the government he led that belled the cat on this issue.

10. Biblical Faith in Defeat

One of the best concession speeches I’ve seen was by Scott Morrison at his local church. Not only does he refrain from attacking his political rivals, but he also models — once again — a personal graciousness and Christian faith that is exemplary. Two of the passages of Old Testament Scripture that Scott Morrison referred to are worth reflecting on:

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    He enables me to tread on the heights.
(Habakkuk 3:17-19)

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
(Micah 7:7-8)

What will be Scott Morrison’s Legacy?

It’s almost certainly too soon to say with any precision what the legacy of a Morrison government will be. And it has definitely not been without controversy or disappointment. But as Frank Bongiorno wrote about the great Liberal leader, Robert Menzies, in The Conversation:

When Robert Menzies retired in January 1966, everyone seemed to be able to agree it was an end of an era, but they struggled to discern a likely legacy. The Australian, then in its infancy, asked: “Has anything happened to Australia in the last 16 years of which we can say: ‘This was Menzies’?” It offered education as one possibility, but was not otherwise able to find much…

The author then goes on to make the observation that, “Menzies’ greatest achievement seemed to lie in his political nous rather than his policy achievement.” As a political pragmatist, perhaps Scott Morrison’s legacy will be something similar? Either way, while there is still religious freedom in this country, there is much to be grateful for in the leadership of Scott Morrison.

While I believe that the Coalition in general — and the Liberal Party in particular — needs to do some serious soul searching, and especially rid themselves of the conservative cancer of politicians such as Bridget Archer, the only one of the five Liberal senators who crossed the floor to vote against the government’s religious freedom bill who still has a seat — there is still much to thank God for, and I wish him every blessing in the future.

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Photo: Eesan1969 / Wikimedia Commons.

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11 Comments

  1. Aileen Tan 31 May 2022 at 8:43 pm - Reply

    Mark Powell, thank you for your article Ten Reasons to (Still) Thank God for Scott Morrison, which was both insightful and an excellent summary of Scott Morrison’s contribution to Australia.

    • Mark Powell 1 June 2022 at 6:37 pm - Reply

      No worries Aileen. Glad you found it helpful!

  2. Yvonne Wuttke 31 May 2022 at 11:10 pm - Reply

    Thank you Mr Morrison l know if you could have done what Jesus would have done for the true Christians all would have worked out as Blessings from God Our Father. There is so much evil in this world & and this is what the majority wants. We were outnumbered But with God on our side it doesn’t matter who is against us we know the Truth & The Truth will set us free. Thanks once again & God Bless you & your precious family. Love & Peace.

  3. Pearl Miller 1 June 2022 at 5:15 am - Reply

    Wishing ScoMo and family all the best..pity he worked for the WEF and not the Australian people. Tough call PM .

  4. Trevor Radbone 1 June 2022 at 9:19 am - Reply

    So grateful for the Prime Ministership of Mr Morrison. The article above is a good summation of the period now behind , but which fruit is still with us as a Nation. Thanks. So many events precipitate during this period past, needing prayers for God’s outcomes, both here and the South Pacific region.

  5. Heather Drew 1 June 2022 at 9:30 am - Reply

    My heart goes out to Scott and his lovely family. He had a tough gig to manage and I thank him very much for his service and his strong Christian values, Thank you Scott. May God bless you as you can at last have some quality time with your beautiful family.

  6. Dennis Hughes 1 June 2022 at 10:03 am - Reply

    I am grateful for the hard work of our former Prime Minister,, Scott Morrison, may God bless him and his family, and may he continue to stand up for the truth .
    Let us be thankful for his leadership, apart from our leaders during the two World Wars, has there ever been a Prime Minister in our nation who has been under such pressure?? Floods, fires and Covid 19.
    Thank God for ScoMo’s leadership!!

  7. Anna Soh 1 June 2022 at 1:08 pm - Reply

    Great article and if not for the fires, floods and COVID I believe ScoMo would have tabled the Religious Discrimination Bill earlier. However, that’s not the main issue but the 5 Liberal MPs who crossed the floor and only one still has a seat and only just is a clear sign to the Liberal Party to wake up and know what the Party stand for and be clear to all its MPs why they have their seats and to hold on to them they need to know who are voting for them and why.
    So many Australians have failed to see what ScoMo took our country through over 3 years and without ScoMo as Prime Minister over these years we could be in a very different state right now. I would like to thank Scott Morrison for what he did for our nation and pray that this new season would be a greater season and Micah 7:7-8 will be what his true legacy would be for all to witness his trust is in God and not man and I pray that he and his family will find the next season very rewarding.

  8. John Devine 1 June 2022 at 5:39 pm - Reply

    I also absolutely agree with the article & commend Scot Morrison for his excellent leadership. He did not fail to be reelected for his Christian values but because of the secular, atheistic, critical, self-centered trend of the Australian community. This a a warning to the people!
    As events unfold may we be given another chance.

  9. Warwick Marsh 1 June 2022 at 9:53 pm - Reply

    Dear Mark

    I must say I thought you did an exceptional job with this article. You have not lost your incredible touch.

    It shot to number one in 24 hours.

    Yes, I was disappointed in Mr Morrison on several levels, but I have refrained from saying it publicly.

    OVER the last three years the radical left have conducted a character assassination campaign on Mr Morrison. I did not want to help them with their vile campaign of lies and treachery!!!!

    Please keep writing. You have an incredible gift. “The pen (keyboard) is still mightier than the sword!”

    Mark, thank you for thinking of us!

    Mr Morrison we honour you and pray for you and God will bless you and you will get some more time with your beautiful family.

  10. Bronwyn 12 June 2022 at 3:48 pm - Reply

    I could go on and on…let me just say he will be remembered as the worst PM we’ve ever had!

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