Australia No. 9 reported on June 8 that former Prime Minister Morrison won the highest honor on this year's King's birthday honor list. Morrison is one of 14 people awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia, including director Baz Luhrmann and his costume designer wife Catherine Martin, female entrepreneur Jennifer Westacott and former CSIRO chairman Kathryn Fagg.
(Photo source: Daily Telegraph) Governor Samantha Mostyn said: "These honors recognize people who have made selfless contributions to Australia's prosperity, who demonstrate integrity, achievement, creativity and care."
"I see the values of caring, kindness and respect in many Australians recognized today, and in those recognized in the 50-year history of the Australian honor system."
(Photo source: Taiwan No. 9)
Morrison received this honor "for his outstanding service to the Australian people and parliament...a significant contribution to global participation, leading the nationwide response to the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting economic initiatives, and strengthening national security, especially through leading Australia to participate in the AUKUS agreement."
Morrison served as prime minister since 2018, when he replaced his former Malcolm Turnbull in the Liberal leadership battle until the Coalition lost the 2022 federal election. Under his leadership, the Liberal and National Party won the 2019 election that was widely regarded as hopeless in the victory, followed by a multi-billion-dollar AUKUS agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom, where Australia will receive nuclear-powered submarines.
Aduring his tenure, Australia recorded one of the lowest death rates in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo source: Taiwan No. 9)
However, Morrison was also criticized for his behavior during the premiership, including taking his family to Hawaii for an inappropriate vacation during the black summer wildfires, and then making the notorious remarks of "I'm not a firefighter" and the slow purchase of vaccines during the epidemic.
Morrison also created the "Robodebt" during his tenure as Minister of Social Services.
Royal Commission's investigation into the program believes that he "failed to perform" duties and "misleads the cabinet", but he denied the findings, saying it was "erroneous, lacking in basis and contradicting clear documentary evidence". However, it was not until he lost his prime minister that Morrison's biggest controversy broke out in 2022, when it was revealed that he had secretly sworn in as five ministers during the pandemic, most of which were conducted without the current minister's knowledge.
Since the establishment of the Medal Honor System in 1975, it has become a practice for the former Prime Minister to be awarded the Australian Companion Medal.
Paul Keating was the only former prime minister to not receive this honor, and he rejected it in 1997.
Along with Morrison, Luhrmann and Martin are also on the list of honors this year, a strong combination of Australian film industry, creating many blockbusters including "Romeo and Juliet", "The Moulin Rouge" and "The Great Gatsby", as well as the local classic "Dance Hero".
Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin (Photo source: No. 9)
In addition, former Olympic swimming medalist and former AFLW general manager Nicole Livingstone, and Bruce Gordon, the major shareholder of Nine Entertainment, were awarded the second highest honor, the Officer of the Order of Australia.
