Scott Morrison, the former Prime Minister of Australia, has been invited to deliver a keynote address at the prestigious Oxford Union on Thursday, June 15th, at 5 pm. Following his talk,
Morrison will engage in a question-and-answer session with the audience.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Matthew Dick, the President of the Oxford Union, said, "I am truly excited to offer our members another remarkable opportunity to hear from and engage with a former leader of a Commonwealth state. It is a fantastic way to conclude the term."
Morrison, who currently serves as the Member of Parliament for Cook in New South Wales, is taking a week off from parliamentary duties for a privately-funded visit to the United Kingdom. In addition to his appearance at the Oxford Union, his itinerary includes a luncheon with the UK Policy Exchange think tank and participation in an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the International Democrat Union, a global alliance of center-right political parties.
During his visit, Morrison is expected to receive briefings from UK government officials concerning a security pact he previously signed with Boris Johnson and Joe Biden. The International Democrat Union is covering the expenses for Morrison's flights and accommodation, while the UK government has facilitated the trip's arrangements through Stephen Smith, the High Commissioner of Australia to the UK.
Morrison held the position of Australia's 30th Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, leading the Liberal Party. Renowned for his staunch conservative values, he guided Australia through a series of challenges, including bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent economic recovery.
His tenure was marked by a robust foreign policy, exemplified by the signing of the AUKUS security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, which heightened tensions with China.
Expressing his commitment to the AUKUS agreement, Morrison stated, "As a founder and architect of the AUKUS agreement, I will continue to do everything in my power to support its success and promote the strong bipartisan support it enjoys."
Since leaving office, speculation about Morrison's retirement from politics has been rampant, with reports suggesting that he has received offers to join a major UK defense company.
Criticism was directed at Morrison during his premiership for his handling of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct within the Australian Parliament in 2021 and his government's perceived lack of support for flood victims in eastern Australia in 2022. Photo by U.S. Department of State from United States, Wikimedia commons.