Ex-PM Morrison Awarded Companion Order Australia in King's Birthday Honours

Scott Morrison, Australia's 30th prime minister, has been appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List, receiving the nation's highest civilian accolade alongside notable figures such as filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and costume designer Catherine Martin. He was recognized for his eminent service to Australia, particularly for leadership during the national COVID-19 response, economic initiatives, global engagement, and enhancing national security through the AUKUS pact with the US and UK. Despite early pandemic approval ratings reaching historic highs, Morrison's tenure was marked by controversies including his holiday in Hawaii during the Black Summer bushfires, the slow vaccine rollout, the robodebt scheme for which a royal commission found he failed his responsibilities, and secretly appointing himself to five ministerial roles during the pandemic. While his government achieved a surprising 2019 election victory and helped keep Australia's COVID-19 fatality rate among the lowest globally, public opinion soured by the end of his term, with Morrison becoming one of the most unpopular major party leaders in decades. The Governor-General highlighted the values of care, kindness, and respect embodied by the honorees. This appointment continues the tradition of awarding former prime ministers the Companion of the Order of Australia, with Morrison joining all others except Paul Keating, who declined the honour.