Where does Scott Morrison’s time in power place him in the rankings of Australia’s 31 prime ministers?
Morrison became a polarising figure during his time in office, from daggy Dad outsider who pulled off a miracle election win to a leader who provoked visceral anger and led the Coalition to lose 19 seats and government.
Historians says it will take years to rank the prime ministership of Scott Morrison.Credit: john shakespeare
His infamous Hawaiian holiday and “I don’t hold a hose, mate” comment, his reference to wife Jenny when discussing the Brittany Higgins rape allegations, the “it’s not a race” comment about vaccines and the shortage of RATs as Australia reopened its borders all rankled people.
There was also the multiple ministries affair, the Robodebt scandal and the Orwellian phrase “on-water matters” that he used to avoid commenting on the turning back of asylum seeker boats.
But, as the former leader pointed out this week, there were also significant achievements: the 2019 election win, the AUKUS defence agreement, the early decision to shut borders as part of its initial response to COVID, and significant funding for mental health which saw the suicide rate fall despite people being locked down during the pandemic.
As immigration minister, Morrison stopped the flow of asylum seeker boats to Australia, while as treasurer he delivered stages 1 and 2 of his tax plan and struck a deal with Western Australia on GST distribution (which has been criticised by the east coast states and many economists).
So where does Australia’s 30th prime minister sit in the ranks of prime ministers?
Nick Dyrenfurth, an author, historian and executive director of the Labor think tank the John Curtin research institute, who helped compile Monash University’s 2020 list of Australia’s best and worst prime ministers, argues that at least a decade must pass before Morrison’s legacy (or that of any prime minister) can be properly assessed.
Where does ScoMo rank in the pantheon of former PMs?
9
1
29.02.2024
Where does Scott Morrison’s time in power place him in the rankings of Australia’s 31 prime ministers?
Morrison became a polarising figure during his time in office, from daggy Dad outsider who pulled off a miracle election win to a leader who provoked visceral anger and led the Coalition to lose 19 seats and government.
Historians says it will take years to rank the prime ministership of Scott Morrison.Credit: john shakespeare
His infamous Hawaiian holiday and “I don’t hold........
© The Sydney Morning Herald
visit website
login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Andrew Mitrovica
Mort Laitner
Nikkei Editorial
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Rami G Khouri
