It was a bizarre moment of tribute on a deeply divided day.
Mere minutes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese scorned his predecessor, Scott Morrison, in a historic censure motion on the floor of parliament, he marked history in a wholly different way by heaping praise upon the legacy of another opposing former prime minister.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former prime minister Tony Abbott at the unveiling of the latter’s portrait in Parliament House.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Speaking at the unveiling of the portrait of former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott to be hung in Parliament House, Albanese described Abbott as a man who continued to contribute to public life after being unseated in 2019 by volunteering as a lifesaver and a firefighter.
Despite their differences in politics, Albanese said, “you have my respect”.
“Privately, as you know, we discuss things probably more than some of your colleagues would want to know, but we do, and I appreciate … the advice you’ve given me as a former prime minister, as other prime ministers do as well,” he said.
Abbott, who lost his northern Sydney seat of Warringah to independent Zali Steggall in 2019, said the occasion was akin to the valedictory speech he’d never had the chance to give.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott unveils his portrait with artist Johannes Leak.Credit:Alex Ellinmghausen
He said the portrait would be the third likeness of him in the building after photos in the ministerial wing and Liberal Party room, adding wryly, Albanese would be honoured with his own portrait as a former prime minister “soon enough”.
Speaking to a packed audience of politicians from both houses, Abbott honoured Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the man he took the reins from, Morrison, who were both watching on.
The latter laughed at Abbott’s quips in a show of jocularity contrasting his fiery defence of holding multiple, secret ministries during the pandemic while facing a Labor-led censure in the lower house two hours before.
Tony Abbott said he was honoured by the presence of former prime minister Scott Morrison at the unveiling of the portrait.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“Prime ministers form the most exclusive club in the country. There will be storms to come, there have been storms in the past, but between us there should always be a bond of respect,” Abbott said.
“Only one person at one time can lead a party of a country, but it takes a team to get that person there and sustain it.”
The portrait’s artist, Johannes Leak – son of late political cartoonist Bill Leak – said over the course of their sittings he got to know Abbott as a man of three dimensions: “affable and warm one on one, with a quintessentially Australian manner and a great sense of humour.”
“So that the painting would most truthfully capture his essence, I wanted to take my cues around pose, dress and other elements from him, to intervene as little as possible. I hope my portrait captures some of those facets of the man I got to know,” he said.
Unveiled, the portrait was the quintessential image of the conservative former prime minister: sleeves rolled, hands on hips, blue tie matching the one the subject had worn to the event.
After Abbott posed for a barrage of selfies with current politicians, the crowd dispersed, while the motion against Morrison continued to be debated in the House of Representatives.
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