Scott Morrison as popular as Rolf Harris: Simon Holmes a Court

Activist and businessman Simon Holmes a Court has compared Scott Morrison’s popularity to that of sex offender Rolf Harris, with the Coalition demanding the teal MPs backed by the Climate 200 founder explain their position.

Simon Holmes a Court. Picture: Josie Hayden

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Activist and businessman Simon Holmes a Court has compared Scott Morrison’s popularity to that of sex offender Rolf Harris after the former prime minister spent New Year’s Eve with Donald Trump at the president-elect’s Mara Lago Resort.

In a repost of Mr Morrison’s photo with Mr Trump, the Climate 200 founder said that, should the former prime minister read the replies to his tweet, “it’ll be the second time he’ll have wished he could stay in the US and avoid coming back home”.

“(Mr) Morrison is almost as popular as Rolf Harris,” Mr Holmes a Court said.

if @ScoMo30 ever reads the replies to this tweet, it’ll be the second time he’ll have wished he could stay in the US and avoid ever coming back home.

morrison is almost as popular as rolf harris. https://t.co/BWppJqHbNS

— 💧simon holmes à court (@simonahac) January 1, 2025

The comments were seized upon by opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, who demanded the teal independents that Mr Holmes a Court funded should explain their position.

“That Simon Holmes a Court believes meeting with the democratically elected leader of our closest ally is in any way comparable to child sexual abuse says more about him than Scott Morrison,” Senator Paterson said.

“Teal MPs should explain whether they endorse the unhinged views of their chief fundraiser. If they held the balance of power after the next election, what influence over Australia’s foreign and national security ­policy would he wield?”

Mr Holmes a Court and sitting teal MPs were contacted for ­comment.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny with US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania at the New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago.

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink criticised the Coalition for hypocrisy and made a veiled swipe at the party’s major donors such as Gina Rinehart.

“Simon Holmes a Court’s opinions are his own. He was not, nor has never been, my chief fundraiser and I have never consulted him on policy,” she said.

“The only people seemingly concerned with his ‘policy positions’ appears to be the Liberal Party which I assume reflects how they accept policy advice from their backers like Gina Rinehart.

“That might be how it works for them but as a community independent the only people I listen to are my community.”

The criticism of Mr Holmes a Court and the independents he funds comes as mining magnate Clive Palmer sought to trademark the terms “teal” and “Clive and Pauline Party” last year.

It is unclear why the United Australia Party founder made such applications.

The “teal wave” was one of the most significant elements of the 2022 election, with questions now arising over whether Labor would enter into power-sharing agreements with the independents should it lose majority at the next election.

Senator Paterson warned a Labor government reliant on teals and Greens support would risk the relationship with the US under the Trump administration.

“We can’t afford to risk projects like AUKUS and our most important security alliance in an uncertain world,” he said.

Concerns around the US relationship have been raised since Mr Trump was successfully re-elected, given figures like Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd had made scathing comments of the leader in the past.