Scott Morrison pays tribute to ‘indomitable Australian spirit’ in New Year’s message

Grit, ingenuity and forbearance has guided Australians during a ‘period of unprecedented isolation’, Scott Morrison says in his New Year’s message.

Scott Morrison warned that in the year ahead ‘we must stay vigilant’. Picture: Gary Ramage

Australians enter 2021 “stronger, safer,” and “together” after finding the “grit and ingenuity” to confront, in the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s “greatest challenge since the Second World War”, Scott Morrison says in his New Year’s message.

“In a period of unprecedented isolation we have once again found each other and turned to each other (and) as a result we are getting through this together,” the Prime Minister said on Thursday.

“Like the generations before us, in this past year we have found that same indomitable Australian spirit.

“We’ve found the grit, we’ve found the ingenuity and the forbearance and we have been upheld most of all by our wonderful spirit of mateship.”

Mr Morrison singled out for special thanks “all Australians who have sacrificed so much, served so greatly and even now continue in their steadfast dedication to their duty at this time”, including “health workers collecting test samples and tracing the contacts, tending to our elderly, counselling on our help lines and supporting our quarantine arrangements ably assisted by our defence forces and our police and emergency service personnel”.

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to everyday Australians who are “doing the right thing” by lining up to get tested, and “pushing past the disappointment and frustration of restrictions to push through as a country”.

People queue for COVID-19 tests outside Sandringham Hospital in Melbourne on Thursday. paid tribute to Australians who are ‘doing the right thing’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Despite positive signs that the economy is recovering strongly from its first recession in close to 30 years, triggered by the health crisis, Mr Morrison warned in the year ahead “we must stay vigilant”.

But he also flagged that in 2021 “a safe and effective vaccine … will be available to all Australians and will be a key step in our recovery”.

As the country continues to suffer from Chinese trade aggression, the Prime Minister said he remained determined “to stand up also for the things we believe in … and not be intimidated and always protect our sovereignty”.

“So Australia as we go into this new year — stronger, safer, together — that‘s the path ahead of us. Let’s continue on that path in the way we’ve been able to get through this past year and emerge even stronger in 2021.”