Morrison’s faith has long been a defining feature of his life, as he made clear in his first speech to parliament, and while prime minister he continued to participate in and lead a parliamentary prayer group.
During the 2019 election campaign, he visited his church on Easter Sunday and after securing a come-from-behind victory, famously declared the win was a “miracle”.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison during an Easter Sunday service at his Horizon Church at Sutherland in Sydney in 2019.Credit: AAP
Thomas Nelson’s website promises the book will offer a unique insider’s account from a Christian prime minister who was open about his faith and who led Australia during one of the toughest periods since the Second World War, covering drought, wildfires, a global pandemic and recession.
It is billed as “less political memoir and more pastoral encouragement” and the former Liberal leader sets out a series of questions such as “Who am I?” and “How should I live?” and seeks to answer them.
According to Neilsen Bookscan figures from 2020, the year Malcolm Turnbull’s memoir A Bigger Picture was released, the best-selling prime ministerial autobiography in recent years remains Gough Whitlam’s 1979 book The Truth of the Matter, which has sold more than 150,000 copies, while Kevin Rudd’s two volumes, Not for the Faint-Hearted (2017) and The PM Years (2018) managed only 8260 and 5750 sales respectively.
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Since losing the prime ministership, Morrison has signed on with the US-based Worldwide Speakers Group, delivered speeches in the UK about the AUKUS defence partnership he helped create and also delivered sermons at a number of churches.
While his imminent departure from office has been widely tipped several times since his election defeat in May 2022, he insists he still gets satisfaction from his role as the backbencher member for Cook.
On Sunday, Morrison delivered a 20-minute sermon at the Pentecostal Encounter City Church in Perth, saying that “after I stepped down as prime minister, [I was asked] to come and say a few words”.
He told the congregation that “the Christian journey is not linear. Ever. I know. It’s up, it’s down, it’s around.”
He urged them to be resolute: “especially in the world today, which is increasingly hostile and more overt about it. For us, as believers, I think it’s important for us to stand and to hold fast.”
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Morrison also backed the Liberal Party’s 2022 Pearce candidate, Linda Aitken, who is seeking re-election as the mayor of the City of Wanneroo, arguing she would give favour to church building approvals.
“This isn’t a political message, but new church buildings need building and development approvals,” Morrison joked.