Scott Morrison has received a rockstar welcome at the Pentecostal Church of controversial tennis star Margaret Court.
The former prime minister jetted into Perth on Sunday for the first time since his election loss on May 21 and appeared in good spirits as he mingled with guests.
Mr Morrison was a guest speaker at the event celebrating the 27th birthday of the Victory Life Centre and the installation of its new Perth Prayer tower.
Court also celebrated her 80th birthday on Saturday.
The former PM thanked ‘Christians around the country’ for their prayers over the past four years and told the crowd: ‘I still believe in miracles’.
Scott Morrison (pictured speaking to guests on Sunday) has received a rockstar welcome at the Pentecostal Church of controversial tennis star Margaret Court
Mr Morrison also congratulated fellow Christian and professional tennis player Matt Ebden (left) for his men’s doubles win at Wimbledon last week
The former leader of Australia famously said following his 2019 victory against Bill Shorten: ‘I have always believed in miracles’.
During his speech at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney that followed his election loss the father-of-two said he still believed in miracles.
‘Three years ago I stood before you and I said I believed in miracles. I still believe in miracles,’ he said, referring to his wife Jenny, and daughters Abbey and Lily.
In his speech on Saturday, Mr Morrison congratulated fellow Christian and professional tennis player Matt Ebden for his men’s doubles win at Wimbledon.
He told the West Australian he was attending the event ‘by invitation in a private capacity’ after rubbing shoulders with leaders in Seoul earlier this week.
After taking the stage Mr Morrison decided to work the room and was seen high-fiving children and shaking hands with other attendees.
In the crowd were several high-profile Liberal Party members including former WA premier Richard Court, the brother of Court’s husband Barry Court – a former WA Liberal Party President.
Mr Court told the crowd a week earlier he and his wife, who won 24 Grand Slam titles throughout her glittering career, had been in the royal box at Wimbledon.
Ms Court (pictured with her husband Barry) has publicly supported Mr Morrison during his time as prime minister and earlier this year asked her church to pray he be re-elected
‘We walked through the crowd and we [knew] very few people, we hadn’t been there for 10 years,’ he said.
‘But we come here today and we know everybody. You’re all a very strong group of Christians together so it’s a great honour to have you all here.’
Ms Court publicly supported Mr Morrison during his time as prime minister and earlier this year asked her church to pray he would be re-elected.
In a video posted to social media, she asked they come together in prayer during the uncertain times and cited the upcoming election.
‘He is a strong Christian, a family man, has good values and morals,’ she said.
‘I thank you Father that Mr Morrison be re-elected 2022, that he has favour and influence on his life to take this nation through these uncharted times, that this nation be known as the Great Southern land of the holy spirit, in Jesus’ name.’
Ms Court landed herself in controversy in 2017 after she wrote a letter to Qantas stating she was disappointed by the airline’s support for gay marriage.
The former champion said she would no longer fly with the company as a result.
Ms Court (pictured with her husband) landed herself in controversy in 2017 after she wrote a letter to Australian airline Qantas that stated she was disappointedof
Mr Morrison has posted a few pictures on social media as the highly-paid backbencher collects his salary and mows the lawns (pictured)
‘I am disappointed that Qantas has become an active promoter for same sex marriage,’ she wrote.
‘I believe in marriage as a union between a man and a woman as stated in the Bible. Your statement leaves me no option but to use other airlines where possible for my extensive travelling.’
Her views on same-sex marriage sparked calls for the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Park to be renamed – with some suggesting Aboriginal icon Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, who has won seven grand slams, as an alternative.
Mr Morrison has been keeping busy since his federal election loss, flying into Seoul this week to make a speech at the Asian Leadership Conference.
Mr Morrison sported a John Howard bald spot as he talked with ex-US vice president Mike Pence at the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul (pictured)
The former PM also paid a visit to former US vice-president Mike Pence as well as Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Mr Morrison spoke of how Australia performed better than most countries when it came to economic and health results during the pandemic.
But, he also admitted his government’s response to Covid during 2020 and 2021 came at the cost of his top job.
Mr Morrison took a hefty pay cut when he lost the May election but will still rack in $217,000 a year with a backbencher base salary.
Back home, Mr Morrison has kept a low profile, occasionally posting to show off his South Sydney lifestyle – mowing the grass and attending sports games.
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