Former ministers Karen Andrews and Marise Payne backed Morrison’s view, although Andrews argued he would have fared higher politically had he not surrounded himself with male advisers.
“One of many issues as a frontrunner I may have performed rather a lot higher was – having began effectively connecting with Australians as prime minister – that emotional connection between me and plenty of Australians was misplaced,” Morrison mentioned.
“I do remorse that as a result of I believe from my viewpoint the connection is simply as robust.”
Former state premiers Daniel Andrews, Annastacia Palaszczuk and Mark McGowan supplied a mix of criticism and reward for Morrison’s administration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrews, who retired final 12 months, known as Morrison “slippery” however supplied help for parts of his efficiency.
“Some folks could be shocked to listen to me say [this], however they overlook JobKeeper was extremely vital. They overlook that regardless that the vaccines took too lengthy, we did get to one of many highest double-dose charges wherever on the earth,” Daniel Andrews mentioned. “There’s a danger that each one simply will get washed away, and that’s a bit unhappy.”
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Palaszczuk mentioned she hung up on Morrison on the finish of a tense name a couple of girl who was refused entry to Queensland to go to a funeral.
“He mentioned, ‘It will break you, it’s worthwhile to do that, you need to approve this.’ And it was threatening language. I felt extraordinarily threatened,” she mentioned.
The Nationwide COVID-19 Co-ordination Fee’s Jane Halton mentioned she screamed the F-word on the TV when she heard Morrison say it was “not a race” to safe vaccines for Australia. She claimed the slowness in procuring vaccines lengthened Australia’s lockdowns.
Morrison mentioned he regretted utilizing the phrase however famous then-Well being Division chief Brendan Murphy used the identical language relating to the necessity to not rush the scientific approval course of.
On the AUKUS submarine pact, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull mentioned Morrison’s cancelling of a cope with France to construct non-nuclear submarines was “the worst resolution of his authorities”, one which “sacrificed Australian safety, sovereignty and honour suddenly”.
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Morrison mentioned it was arguably his greatest resolution as chief of Australia, a view shared by many colleagues and defence analysts.
Martin Parkinson mentioned Morrison was maybe the one Coalition chief who had the political authority to lock in Nationals help for the pledge of web zero emissions by 2050.
Morrison added: “I don’t assume any prime minister has needed to put as a lot on the road to realize that consequence as I did. My predecessors didn’t.”
Former shut political ally Josh Frydenberg spoke of his shock after the 2022 election on studying that Morrison had secretly sworn himself into the Treasury portfolio, together with 4 different ministries, typically with out the data of the accountable ministers.
“It impacted that relationship and nonetheless does to at the present time,” Frydenberg mentioned on this system.
Morrison mentioned he didn’t remorse his resolution to overrule minister Keith Pitt on a contentious coal mine resolution, however he did apologise to Frydenberg.
“I apologise to Josh and we’re reconnected and pretty much as good mates as you possibly can hope for,” he mentioned.