'I leave having given all': Morrison farewells politics in final speech

MPs, family members, friends and staff in the public gallery rose to applaud Australia's 30th prime minister on Tuesday as he concluded an emotional valedictory speech during which he held back tears and imparted "helpful reflections".

The Liberal MP - who served in the top job from 2018 to 2022 - told Parliament he would leave politics with nothing left to give.

"Mr Speaker, I leave this place, not as one of those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. I leave having given all in that arena, and there are plenty of scars to show for it," he said.

"While I ... left nothing of my contributions on that floor, I do believe that in that arena will always remain any bitterness, disappointments or offences that have occurred along the way.

"I leave this place appreciative and thankful, unburdened by offences and released from any bitterness that can so often haunt post-political lives.

"This is due to my faith in Jesus Christ, which gives me the faith to both forgive, but also to be honest about my own failures and shortcomings."

He acknowledged that some would "feel a bit uncomfortable" about his references to Christianity, but said he could not apologise for this.

The former prime minister choked back tears and paused to drink water as he thanked the two AFP members of his protection team who were injured in a car accident in northern Tasmania during the 2022 election campaign.

Mr Morrison made mentions of both his Coalition colleagues and political opponents he had faced in his 16 years in federal politics.

He highlighted first and foremost the role of his local community, referring once again to Sydney's Sutherland Shire as "God's country".

"I've always been guided by the strong local values of my community, family community, small business and what I described as the fair go for those who have a go," he began his speech.

"This is what makes the Shire and southern Sydney such a great place to live and raise a family.

"And there are plenty of quiet Australians who understand that as well.

"Ever since I was first elected, I've always seen it as my job to try and keep it that way."

He also called out former leaders, Brendan Nelson, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, and thanked Peter Dutton especially for his support.

"Thank you to my now party leader Peter Dutton with whom I served in cabinets for all the years of the Coalition government," he told his parliamentary colleagues.

"Thank you for your respect, your loyalty, your support and consideration, especially that you've shown me as a ministerial colleague, as prime minister, and as an ex-PM in your party."

Mr Morrison had well wishes for his opponents in government, too, mentioning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and former Labor leader Bill Shorten.

"We have contested fiercely in this place," Mr Morrison said. "I've had my wins and I've had my losses, but I wish you all well in your service in the national interest."

"Too often in this place, we confuse differences of policy with judgements about people's intent and motives.

"This is not good for our politics. We may disagree, but we need to honour the good intentions of all of us."

The Prime Minister referred to him as a "truly formidable opponent" and thanked him for his "thoughtful, generous and a warm final speech in this place".

Mr Dutton and former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack also spoke in the chamber, paying tribute to Mr Morrison.

Since the election defeat to Labor in May 2022, he has served a backbencher as the federal member for the southern Sydney seat of Cook.

Mr Morrison's pivotal moments over four years as Prime Minister and 16 years in Parliament include the securing the AUKUS deal with the United States and the United Kingdom. He also steered the nation through the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and masterminded the asylum seeker response Operation Sovereign Borders.

He took over from Malcolm Turnbull in 2018 after a bruising leadership spill, defeating Mr Dutton, and led the Coalition to victory in 2019 over the Bill Shorten-led Labor party in what Mr Morrison called a "miracle" win.

Mr Dutton said Mr Morrison had extended friendship to him during this time, and that they had brought the party together after the period of intense turmoil.

Mr Morrison's career was also marked by controversy, including taking a family holiday in Hawaii during the Black Summer bushfires. He also faced backlash over his controversial handling of parliamentary misconduct allegations, and for his secret ministries scandal, for which he was censured in November 2022 for failing to disclose his secret self-appointments to a number of ministries.

In what he later explained was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Morrison secretly appointed himself to administer the health, finance, treasury, home affairs and industry, science, energy and resources ministries.

It was also found that he almost appointed himself to administer a sixth ministry: agriculture, water and the environment.

An investigation by former High Court justice Virginia Bell found that his covert actions undermined public trust and were ultimately unnecessary.

Mr Morrison announced in January that he was to leave politics to take up various global strategic advisory roles and private board roles.

He is to become non-executive vice chairman with American Global Strategies, an advisory firm founded by two ex-staffers of Donald Trump - former national security advisor Robert O'Brien and former national security council chief of staff Alex Gray.

Mr Morrison was elected to Federal Parliament in 2007 after being a state Liberal party director and managing director of Tourism Australia.

His departure triggers a byelection in Cook on a date to be set.