Two time Walkley Award winning journalist Annika Smethurst turns out a fair and balanced biography of Australia's 30th prime minister, Scott Morrison. There is much in this biography that the general public already knows about Scott Morrison: his Christianity, his background in marketing, his time as state director of the Liberal Party (New South Wales Division). In government, we have seen Morrison as a hard nosed Minister for Immigration and Treasurer under Malcolm Turnbull. To flesh out the picture a bit further, Smethurst undertook extensive interviews with colleagues, friends and various associates. We learn that Morrison is hardworking, ruthless and not trusted by many. Men get along better with him, whereas a pattern emerges that women loathe him. Morrison likes it when things are going his way, and is ready to take credit, but when mistakes happen he's liable to sheet the blame home to others. A fascinating quote appears on page 219 from a colleague who has known Morrison for two decades. It demonstrates how the current prime minister pursues power for its own sake. “He is a highly political person who doesn't have any sort of strong values, but the one thing he always had a view on was gay marriage. He was vehemently opposed.” Annika Smethurst has written an instructive and informative biography that pays attention as much to Morrison's flaws as to his strengths. A highly skilled politician, one with a high focus on research and polling, he's someone not to be written off, despite his bungling of several serious issues during his prime ministership (think the bushfires, Brittany Higgins, vaccine rollout etc.) A well rounded biography that should please a broad audience. The Accidental Prime Minister, by Annika Smethurst. Hachette. $39.99 Review by Chris Saliba Comments are closed.
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