Scott Morrison is running to be re-elected as Prime Minister.
He leads the Liberal Party, which has been in Government since 2013, together with the National Party (collectively referred to as the Coalition).
Over the next few weeks, we’ll explain the Coalition’s policies and promises.
But first: who is Scott Morrison?
Before Politics
Scott Morrison was born in Sydney and attended Sydney Boys High before completing a degree at the University of New South Wales.
Morrison became the state director of the NSW Liberal Party in 2000. In 2004, he was appointed by Liberal Prime Minister John Howard to run Tourism Australia, the newly-formed Government tourism body. He clashed with then-Liberal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey and Howard terminated his contract in 2006.
Entering Politics
Morrison entered Parliament in 2007 as the Member for the electorate of Cook, which includes Cronulla.
It was recently alleged that during the 2007 Liberal Party pre-selection process, Morrison used his opponent Michael Towke’s Lebanese background to defeat him. Morrison denies the allegations.
Cook is a safe Liberal seat. Morrison received 64% of first preference votes at the last election.
Rise to Prominence
Morrison became prominent as the Coalition’s spokesperson on immigration, leading the Coalition’s attacks on boat arrivals under the Gillard and Rudd Labor Governments.
Morrison was Immigration Minister in the Abbott Government for one year. He then became Minister for Social Services for a year and Treasurer for three years.
Prime Minister Morrison
Morrison became Prime Minister in 2018.
Fellow Liberal Peter Dutton had attempted to replace Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister, but Morrison beat Dutton in a vote among Liberal MPs and replaced Turnbull instead.
Morrison called an election in 2019 and the Coalition Government was re-elected.
The Past Three Years
Morrison’s first full-term as Prime Minister has been shaped by major disasters, including the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent floods in NSW and Queensland.
It was also marked by a debate about respect for women and in particular the workplace culture in Parliament House.
