Aussies unleash after Scott Morrison receives top accolade in King's Birthday Honours: 'Baffles me'
Australians have lashed out after Scott Morrison was awarded the highest accolade in the King's Birthday Honours List.
The former prime minister, who led the nation for four years from 2018 to 2022, was recognised for his 'eminent service to the people and the parliament of Australia, particularly as prime minister'.
A Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) is the highest award of the Order of Australia honours system. It is followed by Officer of the Order (AO), Member of the Order (AM), and Medal of the Order (OAM).
Former prime ministers are typically honoured in the King's Birthday awards, but the 30th prime minister's recognition sparked widespread criticism.
Mr Morrison's term as prime minister was overshadowed by multiple controversies, including his secret appointment to several ministerial portfolios, involvement in the Robodebt scandal, and his widely criticised remark during the 2019 Black Summer bushfires: 'I don't hold a hose, mate'.
On Monday, Australians took to social media to blast the former PM.
'If you get a shiny trinket just because your a*** has occupied the PM's chair then what is that trinket worth?' one Australian wrote on X.
'Someone should have intervened to deprive Australia's worst ever Prime Minister of this award.'
'It baffles me that we award public servants for doing the job they were paid for. I understand if they do something 'special', but politicians very rarely do,' another added.
'Morrison certainly did nothing 'special'. Not to mention the retirement package that they all enjoy.'
'It's demeaning of the honour system to be giving this cruel, disingenuous s***-bag any honour,' a third added.
One Aussie kept a close tally of Mr Morrison's missteps.
'You lied to the public. Repeatedly. You appointed yourself to five secret ministries. Then claimed it was no big deal,' they wrote.
'You prayed the virus away, outsourced the vaccine rollout, then took credit when premiers fixed your mess.
'You fled to Hawaii during a bushfire crisis. Then blamed your daughters.
'Oh Scotty. Even your religion's ashamed of you. Jesus turned water into wine. You turned democracy into a private members club for gas executives.'
Some Australians said Mr Morrison was 'underrated'.
'Respect, well deserved,' one wrote.
'Well deserved, Scomo is very underrated and deserves a lot more respect than what he is given,' another said.
Since the establishment of the Order of Australia in 1975, every ex-prime minister has been appointed a Companion except Paul Keating.
He declined because he believed the honours should be reserved for those whose community work went unrecognised.
Mr Morrison's honour specifically points to his 'notable contributions to global engagement, to leadership of the national Covid response, to economic initiatives, and to national security enhancements, especially through leadership of Australia's contribution to AUKUS'.
He received significant support during the early days of the pandemic, with an April 2020 Newspoll revealing he had the highest satisfaction rating for any prime minister since Kevin Rudd in 2009.
But by the end of his second term, he had become the most unpopular major party leader since at least 1987, according to an Australian National University study.
The King's Birthday Honours List names 581 people in the General Division of the Order of Australia, including academics, ex-sport stars, leaders and creatives.
'These honours recognise the selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity, and care that flourish across our country,' Governor-General Sam Mostyn said.
Fourteen people were appointed to the highest honour, AC.
Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, best known for their work on films including Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby and Strictly Ballroom, received the accolade for their service to the arts.
Environmental scientist Mark Howden, who served as a vice chair on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was also appointed to AC alongside business leader Jennifer Westacott and NASA climate science centre co-director Graeme Stephens.
Bangerang and Wiradjuri woman Geraldine Atkinson has been named an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for her work with Indigenous communities and reconciliation.
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