Award of the Companion of the Order of Australia
9 June 2025
I am honoured and grateful to have been awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia. It was an immense privilege to be given the opportunity by the Australian people to serve them as their 30th Prime Minister of Australia from August 2018 to May 2022.
During this time Australia faced challenges and threats not experienced since the second world war. These ranged from unrelenting natural disasters and a once in a century global pandemic and the recession it caused, to coercion and intimidation designed to threaten our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific, a world order that favours freedom and our strong bond with allies and partners.
Australians responded to these events in the best traditions of Australian patriotism and mateship with trade-mark courage and a care for their country and one another. This was especially displayed by the men and women of our defence forces, both at home supporting their fellow Australians in crisis and serving our interests overseas. Australians showed their capacity and determination to adapt and overcome. This is why Australia proudly prevailed and will continue to be able to do so in the future. As Prime Minister it was these innate qualities of Australians that I and my Government relied upon to lead Australia through these myriad crises and keep Australians together.
However, we also took our opportunities. We worked to deepen and strike new alliances like AUKUS and embrace new economic opportunities by extending our trade partnerships and to develop our industries and skills and ensuring that Australia sought to live within its means. We did this to keep our economy strong, because we understood that a strong economy will always be the foundation for keeping Australians safe and delivering the essential services that Australians rely on.
In accepting this honour I thank the Australian people and my many colleagues, including State and Territory leaders and in particular Hon. Josh Frydenberg, Hon. Michael McCormack, Hon. Greg Hunt and Hon Marise Payne. I am also grateful to the Leaders of our AUKUS, QUAD, Five Eyes and Pacific family partners who I served with to take on the global challenges we faced together.
I thank the Liberal Party and the people of Cook for the honour of representing them in the Australian parliament. I am thankful to my many staff, led by Dr John Kunkel, for their dedication, skill and professionalism that enabled us to serve our country during incredibly testing times. Above all, I am exceedingly grateful to my wife Jenny, daughters Abbey and Lily, my mother Marion and late father John, and all my family and friends for their self-less love, support and sacrifice that enabled me to follow my passion to serve our country.
In closing I acknowledge my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the author of my faith, in whose joyful service and care I will remain forever. God bless Australia.
