Scott Morrison (politician)
Encyclopedia
Scott John Morrison is a member of the Australian House of Representatives
, and is a member of the Liberal Party of Australia
. He is the shadow immigration minister, and represents the Division of Cook
, an electorate in the southern suburbs of Sydney
, which include Cronulla, Caringbah, and Miranda
. He was elected in the 2007 Australian Federal Election.
Morrison was educated at Sydney Boys High, where he completed his Higher School Certificate, and other public schools. He then went onto the University of New South Wales
, where he received an Honours degree in Applied Science, studying economics and geography.
Before entering Federal Parliament, Morrison was the Managing Director of Tourism Australia
. and State Director of the Liberal Party of Australia in NSW from 2000-2004. Prior to this, he served in senior executive roles in the tourism and property sector in Australia and New Zealand, including the Property Council of Australia and the Tourism and Transport Forum.
Morrison now lives in the southern Sydney suburb of Lilli Pilli
, with his wife Jenny and two daughters, Abbey and Lily.
, who served as the Member since 1998.
In September 2008 Scott was appointed as a member of Malcolm Turnbull
's coalition
frontbench as Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government. Scott was the first Member for Cook to be appointed to a front bench for almost 40 years.
Morrison has served on parliamentary committees, including Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, House Committee on Economics, House Committee on Families, Community, Housing an House Committee on Health and Ageing.
He has also served on Coalition's Policy Committees on Social Policy, Education & Industrial Relations and Legal and Immigration issues as well as the Party Leader's Taskforces on Party Reform and Reform of Federalism.
On December 8 2009, Morrison became Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, coming into the cabinet for the first time during Tony Abbott
's first cabinet reshuffle shortly after winning leadership. He now serves on the Shadow Cabinet Committee on Border Protection. Abbott described Morrison as "a great talent who was one of the bright new stars of the new generation of MPs."
In December 2010, at least 30 asylum seekers died in the Christmas Island boat disaster. On 15 February 2011, Morrison caused controversy when he publicly questioned the decision of the Gillard federal Labor government
to pay for relatives of the victims to travel to funerals in Sydney. After fellow Liberal and shadow treasurer Joe Hockey
denounced Morrison's statements, Morrison said that the timing of his comments was insensitive, but did not back away from the comments themselves.
. In order for him to leave his position quietly, it was rumoured that Prime Minister
John Howard
offered him the Liberal nomination for Cook. However, it was believed that he did not have the backing of local branches. Earlier, a different candidate, Michael Towke, had been pre-selected in a contentious process where branch stacking
was alleged.
In August 2007, Towke was disendorsed by the New South Wales
Liberal Party. A new pre-selection, which consisted of representatives of the state branch and the local executive, endorsed Morrison 26 to 14 over Peter Tynan.
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
, and is a member of the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
. He is the shadow immigration minister, and represents the Division of Cook
Division of Cook
The Division of Cook is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1969 and is named for James Cook, who mapped the east coast of Australia in 1770. It is located in the southern suburbs of Sydney, including Caringbah, Cronulla, Miranda and Sylvania...
, an electorate in the southern suburbs of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, which include Cronulla, Caringbah, and Miranda
Miranda, New South Wales
Miranda is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Miranda is located 24 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the Sutherland Shire....
. He was elected in the 2007 Australian Federal Election.
Early life
Scott Morrison grew up in Bronte, eastern Sydney. His father was a policeman and his mother worked in various administrative jobs. Outside their day jobs, Morrison's parents ran youth programs for the local church. His father was also involved in aged care, and served as a local councillor for 16 years.Morrison was educated at Sydney Boys High, where he completed his Higher School Certificate, and other public schools. He then went onto the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where he received an Honours degree in Applied Science, studying economics and geography.
Before entering Federal Parliament, Morrison was the Managing Director of Tourism Australia
Tourism Australia
Tourism Australia is a statutory authority of the Government of Australia, with responsibility for tourism marketing within Australia and internationally, as well as research and forecasting of domestic and global tourism trends...
. and State Director of the Liberal Party of Australia in NSW from 2000-2004. Prior to this, he served in senior executive roles in the tourism and property sector in Australia and New Zealand, including the Property Council of Australia and the Tourism and Transport Forum.
Morrison now lives in the southern Sydney suburb of Lilli Pilli
Lilli Pilli, New South Wales
Lilli Pilli is a small suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lilli Pilli is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire...
, with his wife Jenny and two daughters, Abbey and Lily.
Political career
Morrison was elected as the Federal Member for Cook in November 2007, following the retirement of Bruce BairdBruce Baird
Bruce George Baird, AM , is a former Australian politician.-Early life:Baird was born in Sydney, and was educated at the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, holding a master's degree in business administration from the latter...
, who served as the Member since 1998.
In September 2008 Scott was appointed as a member of Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
's coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
frontbench as Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government. Scott was the first Member for Cook to be appointed to a front bench for almost 40 years.
Morrison has served on parliamentary committees, including Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, House Committee on Economics, House Committee on Families, Community, Housing an House Committee on Health and Ageing.
He has also served on Coalition's Policy Committees on Social Policy, Education & Industrial Relations and Legal and Immigration issues as well as the Party Leader's Taskforces on Party Reform and Reform of Federalism.
On December 8 2009, Morrison became Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, coming into the cabinet for the first time during Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott
Anthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
's first cabinet reshuffle shortly after winning leadership. He now serves on the Shadow Cabinet Committee on Border Protection. Abbott described Morrison as "a great talent who was one of the bright new stars of the new generation of MPs."
In December 2010, at least 30 asylum seekers died in the Christmas Island boat disaster. On 15 February 2011, Morrison caused controversy when he publicly questioned the decision of the Gillard federal Labor government
Gillard Government
The Gillard Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia, which is led by the Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard. Julia Gillard became Prime Minister on the 24th of June 2010 after challenging her predecessor, Kevin Rudd for the position of leader of the parliamentary...
to pay for relatives of the victims to travel to funerals in Sydney. After fellow Liberal and shadow treasurer Joe Hockey
Joe Hockey
Joseph Benedict "Joe" Hockey , is an Australian politician and member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of North Sydney for the Liberal Party of Australia since 1996....
denounced Morrison's statements, Morrison said that the timing of his comments was insensitive, but did not back away from the comments themselves.
Preselection
While serving as Managing Director of Tourism Australia Morrison had a falling-out with his boss, the Minister for Tourism at the time, Fran BaileyFran Bailey
Frances Esther "Fran" Bailey is an Australianpolitician and Liberal member of theAustralian House of Representatives from 1990 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 2010, representing the electorate of McEwen in Victoria.-Personal life:...
. In order for him to leave his position quietly, it was rumoured that Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
offered him the Liberal nomination for Cook. However, it was believed that he did not have the backing of local branches. Earlier, a different candidate, Michael Towke, had been pre-selected in a contentious process where branch stacking
Branch stacking
Branch stacking is the act of recruiting members for a branch of a political party for the principal purpose of influencing the outcome of internal preselections of candidates for public office...
was alleged.
In August 2007, Towke was disendorsed by the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Liberal Party. A new pre-selection, which consisted of representatives of the state branch and the local executive, endorsed Morrison 26 to 14 over Peter Tynan.