“More taxes are coming,more taxes,more taxes. There’s a hole in your budget,dear Labor,a hole”!
Scott Morrison leaving Kirribilli House in Sydney on Sunday.Peter Rae
On the grounds of the Kirribilli Point property,Scott Morrison was hosting one of his last events,marking the end of his term as Australia’s 30th prime minister following Saturday’s stunning election defeat.
Friends,staffers and their families joined Morrison and wife Jenny at the lower north shore residence throughout the day,with the farewell celebration erupting into song by late-afternoon.
Skies were grey,but the rain held off as laughter and choruses of the Liberal Party’s “Dear Labor” campaign ad jingle rang out to Kirribilli Avenue,while cheers were punctuated by the sound of a whip cracking,courtesy of a demonstration by the outgoing prime minister.
Earlier,Morrison attended a Sunday service at Sutherland’s Horizon Church,where he addressed the congregation and held back tears,reflecting on the “difficult walk” of the past four years in office.
The outgoing Prime Minister hosted his last function at Kirribilli House in Sydney.
“Jenny and I,and the girls,are very grateful to our church family here. You’ve given us a great foundation from which we can walk,what has been a very difficult walk,I gotta tell you,” he said.
“At the last election,we really understood that it was for such a time as this. And now we both know it was for such a time as that.”
An emotional Morrison spoke of his faith and said he was pleased that the last time he spoke as prime minister was to the Sutherland congregation,before reading a series of bible passages from his phone.
“God calls us,whether you’re a prime minister or a pastor,running a business,teaching in schools,working in the police force,it doesn’t matter,” he added.
“We’re each called to trust and obey. And that’s the life of faithfulness ... each and every day,regardless of what your job is.”
Morrison has attended services at the church with his family since 2007. It describes itself as a “Christ-centred,Word-based,Spirit-led church in the heart of the Sutherland Shire”.
In a post later published on his Instagram account,the outgoing prime minister thanked Liberal and National supporters and said the parties would “reflect and rebuild”.
He said it had been an immense privilege to serve during a time of “great trial” and wished incoming prime minister Anthony Albanese and his government well.
“I am now looking forward to returning to the shire,my family and continuing to serve my local community. For me,life has always been about faith,family,friends and community. We are not our jobs but who we are as unique individuals,(in my view),loved by God,” he wrote.
“Jenny and I thank Australia for the honour to have served. I thank my family,friends and colleagues for all their support,especially my dearest friend,Josh Frydenberg.”
Morrison and his wife returned to Kirribilli House about midday on Sunday for the farewell event with staffers,some attending with children. He and his family have lived in the prime ministerial residence since September 2018.
Prime Minister-elect Anthony Albanese has told colleagues he is not in a rush to move into Kirribilli House or The Lodge,the prime minister’s official residences in Sydney and Canberra,and that the Morrison family should take their time in moving out.
On election night,Morrison confirmed he would stand aside as leader but planned to remain in parliament and continue serving his electorate.
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