Morrison in the Solomons...

... schmoozing with the faithful.

Before departing the Solomon Islands for the UK, PM Scott Morrison spent his time there doing what comes naturally to him:

"Scott Morrison won the hearts and minds of the Solomon Islands' people, not through their politicians but their priests. Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny were escorted into St Barnabas Anglican Cathedral for an ecumenical service with the nation's church leaders... Anglican Archbishop Tome thanked God for Mr Morrison's visit, describing it as a 'historical day' in the life of the church... Archbishop Tome said Australia was 'a big brother, a big sister, or a mother' to his county. But Mr Morrison told the gathering Australia was more like a 'twin, a fellow family member' to its Pacific neighbour.

"The Prime Minister, who was earlier mobbed by children at Bishop Epalle Catholic School, said the churches were crucial to the region's social fabric, particularly in the Solomon Islands where more than 90% of people are Christian. Mr Morrison  - who attends an evangelical church... said while church and state should be kept separate, 'Australia understands the importance that faith communities play'... " (PM presses the flesh among the faithful, Ben Packham, The Australian, 4/6/19)

It should now be clear that despite his parroting about the separation of church and state, it's Morrison's actions in mixing with the faithful that reveal the real nature of the man.

"Earlier, Mr Morrison and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare agreed to expand a Pacific churches partnership initiative to encourage more exchange visits with Australian churches... At the conclusion of the service, Mr and Mrs Morrison spent time meeting dozens of the nation's church leaders, discussing the role that Christianity could play in Australia's Pacific 'step up'." (ibid)

As our recently re-elected Christian Zionist PM mixes more and more with the South Pacific faithful, we can expect to see the Solomon Islands joining the usual Pacific suspects who have long lined up with USrael in UN fora. In fact it has already done so - at the UNGA on 30/11/18. The General Assembly, having, in a resolution, "reiterat[ed] that any action by Israel to impose its laws jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem is illegal and therefore null and void," the Solomons lined up with Australia, Israel, the US, Canada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Guatemala to vote against it. (See my 7/12/18 post Morrison at the UN.)

A former Australian prime minister once opined in the 90s that Australia was in danger of turning into a banana republic. Under Morrison, it seems, we're more in danger of turning into a Cassava Christocracy.