King’s Birthday Honours List 2025: Aussies react to Scott Morrison receiving AC

Australians are divided over Scott Morrison’s inclusion on this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List, with some questioning the move. Take our poll and have your say.

Australians are divided over Scott Morrison’s inclusion on this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List, with some questioning the decision to hand the former prime minister the highest level of recognition.

Mr Morrison was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his services to the people and his leadership of the national Covid-19 response.

A News Corp reader poll shows Australians are split over this year’s honour roll, with 58 per cent believing the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List did not get it right in terms of some of the high-profile recipients.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been made a Companion of the Order of Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Australians did not hold back in the online comments section.

Anthony took issue with Mr Morrison being awarded for his response to the global pandemic, saying lives were “destroyed” due to the ex-PM’s “ridiculous and unnecessary Covid policies”.

Chris said giving Mr Morrison a gong “devalues the honours system”.

However, others came to Mr Morrison’s defence, with Beth saying state premiers were “more responsible for the border closures and harsh measures”.

Sammy said the awards “should be abolished”.

He continued: “They’re a joke. The best was when they awarded Dan Andrews for his pandemic leadership in Victoria.”

Likewise Lin said she had “lost faith in the King’s Birthday Honours”, while another reader commented, “I can’t believe they gave one to Scott Morrison.”

Paul believes others in the community were more deserving.

“Why would a politician like Scott Morrison be given credit for anything?” he said.

“He went missing when the fires were burning and the people, scientists, healthcare workers and others did the heavy lifting during Covid — very disappointing there are more deserving people.”

There were similar comments from other Australians who said it was time to “stop giving out gongs to people who were just doing the job they were paid to do. By us”.

Some hailed the unsung heroes who made it onto the Honours List.

“Researchers, volunteers and outstanding brilliance are fine with me, but majority of the people on these lists were either just famous due to PR or just showed up and were paid to do their job adequately,” a reader said.