Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been described as a “virtuous globalization mastermind” and credited with “controlling natural disasters” by the agency that says it now “exclusively” represents him.
Morrison is known for “aggressively working toward a net zero global emissions economy”, the Worldwide Speakers Group said.
Those comments prompted the University of Canberra’s Prof Chris Wallace to say the gig “raises former prime minister Scott Morrison from the national to world-class gaslighter league”.
Morrison, now a backbencher, remains the member for Cook.
Morrison and his government received widespread criticism for dragging its feet on the climate crisis.
At the Glasgow climate summit last year, Morrison did not join an international effort to curb global emissions of methane 30% by 2030, a commitment shared by more than 100 nations including the United States. Australia also declined to strengthen its 2030 target for reducing emissions or announce plans to transition away from its deep investment in fossil fuel production.
The WWSG lists Morrison as one of its “highlighted thought leaders” alongside former US vice-president Mike Pence, former US Speaker Newt Gingrich and US conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, who is known for her inflammatory comments on migrants, the Black Lives Matter movement, cancel culture and woke “snowflakes”.
“From managing the public safety of Australians during the pandemic to mitigating an economic crisis, controlling natural disasters, and leading the country while others were at war – prime minister Morrison led Australia with his particular brand of calm decisiveness and rationale,” Morrison’s bio reads.
“A globalization mastermind, Morrison lends his boundless influence and experience to audiences around the world.”
His speech topics include the future of globalism, and faith, religion and technology in liberal democracies.
In 2019 Morrison gave a speech to the Lowy Institute denouncing “negative globalism” and the “unaccountable internationalist bureaucracy”.
The former prime minister revealed in August that he received honorariums for appearances “sometimes” arranged by the WWSG.
He has previously come under fire for a speaking trip to Tokyo during the opening week of the new parliament in July. He said at the time he had accepted the invitation before the 2022 sitting schedule had been released.
In a press release about the new “exclusive” deal with WWSG, Morrison said he was proud to join the team for his “next chapter” and that it would “help facilitate [his] growing relationships within the private sector”.
“WWSG’s roster of distinguished thought leaders, their truly global customer base, and personal attention have already made our relationship special,” he said.
WWSG’s principal, Dan Sims, said Morrison was “a man of strong faith [who] will actively seek opportunities to serve the global community”.
“Prime minister Scott Morrison has been a respected leader in Australia, throughout the Apac region and around the world,” Sims said.
“Known for providing measured geopolitical leadership and aggressively working toward a net zero global emissions economy, prime minister Morrison’s experiences and insights will be critical for business leaders on six continents.”
“And then his agent described him as a virtuous globalisation mastermind” https://t.co/YJBksR3rdi pic.twitter.com/rnpI4sb5kd
— Georgia Steele (@steele4hughes) October 16, 2022
Wallace, a political analyst, said Morrisons’s pitch should come with a “warning label”.
“The pitch for Morrison’s speaking services contains the level of veracity Australia voters came to expect from him, and which contributed to his election loss this year – something international audiences will not necessarily know,” she said.
“Perhaps [French president] Emmanuel Macron can wise up potential international audiences to the real Scott. Forewarned is forearmed. As Macron would say, ‘I don’t think, I know’ that all with Scott is not as it seems to be.
“In fairness to consumers, there ought to be a warning label on Scott’s speaker services pitch to that effect.”
Guardian Australia has contacted Morrison’s office for comment.
