Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison to tell all in upcoming memoir

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is gearing up to release a memoir that will share previously untold stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes details from his time in office, all underscored by his strong religious faith.

Titled, Plans for Your Good: A Prime Minister’s Testimony of God’s Faithfulness, the 288-page book has been described as “less political memoir and more pastoral encouragement.”

Publishing house HarperCollins revealed that the book will offer “a unique insider’s account of a Christian who was open about his faith and operated at the top level of politics for more than a decade”.

“Full of fascinating insights into the handling of some of the most significant global events and issues of our time Morrison’s honest, vulnerable and reflective answers offers a unique lens to better understand your relationship with God and the blessing that can flow from such a relationship,” HarperCollins said in a statement.

“Alongside an account of high-level politics in a new media age where cancel culture, identity politics and deep secularization is taking hold across so many western societies, creating a truly post Christian west, Morrison testifies to the faithful love and blessings of God.”

The memoir is set to be released on May 21, 2024.

While Morrison no doubt eagerly awaits the release of his book, he recently came under fire for his handling of the Centrelink robodebt scandal while he was the Social Services Minister.

Since its launch in 2015, the robodebt scheme which used an automated income-averaging tool, which led to thousands of people being falsely accused of owing the government money, was cancelled after being found unlawful by the Federal Court in 2019.

Morrison addressed Federal Parliament following the release of the Royal Commission’s bombshell findings on the matter.

The report, released in early July, found that Morrison neglected his responsibilities as a minister regarding a “crude and cruel” illegal robodebt scheme. 

On Monday, July 31, Morrison rejected the commission’s finding, claiming they were “unfounded and wrong”.

“The latest attacks on my character by the government in relation to this report is just a further attempt … to discredit me and my service to our country during one of the most difficult periods our country has faced since the Second World War,” Morrison said at the time.

According to the robodebt royal commissioner, Catherine Holmes, Morrison, who served as the social services minister from December 2014 to September 2015, had permitted misinformation to be presented to the cabinet regarding the necessity of legislation for raising debts using the “income averaging” approach.

Morrison was accused of failing to conduct a basic investigation into the reasons behind the department’s shift in its stance on whether legislative changes were needed to alter social security law.

“Mr Morrison allowed cabinet to be misled because he did not make that obvious inquiry,” the report reads.

However, Morrison argued that at no point had anyone told the ministers that the scheme was unlawful.

“Had this information — that is the internal legal advice — been shared with me when I was minister it is highly unlikely this scheme would have ever been advanced,” Morrison said.

“The commission’s finding unfairly and retroactively applies a consensus on the understanding of the lawful status of the scheme that simply was not communicated at the time.

“This is clearly unreasonable, untenable and false basis to make the allegation of allowing cabinet to be misled.”