Morrison's Legacy: When Religious Ideology Trumps Human Rights
The latest revelations about Scott Morrison’s tenure as Prime Minister continue to paint an increasingly disturbing picture of his leadership. Documents have emerged showing he sought advice to prevent asylum seekers on Nauru from accessing abortions - a move that perfectly encapsulates the troubling intersection of personal religious beliefs and public policy that defined his time in office.
Reading through these documents, I’m struck by the calculated cruelty of it all. Here was a leader who wasn’t content with merely maintaining the already harsh offshore detention system - he actively sought ways to make life more difficult for some of the most vulnerable people under his government’s care.
The timing of this revelation is particularly galling given Morrison’s imminent receipt of an AC in the King’s Birthday Honours. Nothing quite highlights the disconnect between merit and recognition like awarding one of our highest honours to someone whose legacy includes the robodebt scandal, secret ministerial appointments, and now this attempted interference with women’s medical rights.
Let’s be clear about what this means. This wasn’t just about immigration policy or border security. This was about imposing personal religious views on people who had no choice, no voice, and no escape. It’s the kind of behaviour you might expect from a fundamentalist state, not a secular democracy.
This pattern of ideologically-driven decision-making didn’t just affect asylum seekers. We saw it in the handling of the pandemic, in environmental policy, and in the treatment of our elderly during the aged care crisis. The common thread was always the same - ideology and personal beliefs taking precedence over expert advice and human dignity.
Speaking with friends who work in refugee advocacy, the emotional toll of these revelations is palpable. They’ve spent years documenting the impacts of our offshore detention policies, and each new disclosure adds another layer to an already shameful chapter in our history.
The question isn’t just about Morrison anymore - it’s about our political system that allows such behaviour to occur and then rewards it with honours. It’s about the ongoing impact of religious fundamentalism in our supposedly secular government. And it’s about whether we’ve learned anything from this era of our politics.
Looking ahead, we need stronger safeguards against the abuse of power and clearer separation between religious beliefs and public policy. The honours system also needs a serious overhaul - when it rewards behaviour that contradicts basic human rights, it loses all credibility.
The story of Morrison’s prime ministership will be studied for years to come, but not for the reasons he might have hoped. It will serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mixing religious fundamentalism with political power, and the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between personal beliefs and public service.