The Scott Morrison Honeymoon Is Over
Right-wing Prime Minister Scott Morrison came to power in Australia tapping into a wellspring of resentment and touting his support for fossil fuels. But now with catastrophic bushfires sweeping across the country, his approval ratings are in free fall.
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison during a press conference at Parliament House on January 6, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Rohan Thomson / Getty Images)
In 2006 the Australian tourism slogan “Where the bloody hell are you?” became synonymous with hackneyed colloquialisms and large-scale flops. Fourteen years later it’s become a neat metaphor for the leadership troubles of its creator, Prime Minister (and former Tourism Australia head) Scott Morrison. As the world watches the bushfire disaster unfold, they might be wondering: just who is Scott Morrison?
Scott Morrison was the surprise victor of the 2019 Australian federal election. A defier of opinion polls, a runaway hit with Evangelicals, and an out-and-out promoter of the coal industry, Morrison has consistently been likened to Donald Trump, with whom he shares a healthily transactional personal relationship. But despite his populist credentials, his victory in May came against the backdrop of a looming recession, the US-China trade war, and a growing climate emergency. None of this bodes well for his longevity as a leader.
The Revolving Door
Morrison seized control of the Liberal Party — the major partner in Australia’s long-standing right-wing Coalition — and the prime ministership in what most commentators acknowledge was a Machiavellian power move. Internal Liberal Party politics has resembled the Ides of March on repeat: due to internal party coups, no Australian prime minister has served a full term between elections since 2007.
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