'Just call Jacinda': Australian TV host Lisa Wilkinson's advice for Scott Morrison

In the wake of Scott Morrison's surprise re-election, an Australian TV host has penned an open letter urging him to seek advice from Jacinda Ardern. 

Lisa Wilkinson, host of The Project Australia, called on Morrison to show "real leadership" and to provide a "genuinely clear direction" as the re-elected Prime Minister. 

In her letter, Wilkinson said Australia's political scene has become toxic and that Australians are "sick and tired of the energy spent on infighting, political point-scoring and the tribal, factional warfare of recent years". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa Wilkinson.
Lisa Wilkinson. Photo credit: Getty

"We are aching for inspiring solutions put together by serious people, at a time when we are facing serious problems," she wrote, highlighting issues including climate change, homelessness and domestic violence. 

Australia's political scene has been shaky in recent years. The country has had a high turnover of leaders - seven in just 10 years - compared to three Prime Ministers over the last 10 years in New Zealand. 

Morrison himself first came to power through a fierce leadership battle in August last year when former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was voted out by his own Liberal Party. 

And that wasn't the first time. Australia's first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, challenged Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd's leadership in 2010 and won. But she then lost the leadership after Rudd challenged her in 2013.  

Wilkinson wished Morrison luck for the next three years, and pointed to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as a politician he should seek advice from. 

Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison in Auckland.
Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison in Auckland. Photo credit: Getty

"If you're ever in doubt when those big decision-making moments arise, when all the nation turns its lonely eyes to you, if despite all your best efforts you find that wisdom is failing you, can you do us a favour? Just call Jacinda."

Ardern was voted Australia's most-trusted politician in a poll earlier this month, in which participants were asked to score 12 politicians in terms of integrity, relevance and follow-through. 

The bottom five included Morrison, as well as former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who in Sunday's election results lost his seat in Parliament. 

Ardern congratulated Morrison on his win on Sunday, and said she phoned him to offer him and his wife Jenny "my congratulation on his election victory in what was a close and hard fought election". 

The Prime Minister said she also contacted Bill Shorten, the Labor Party leader who has since said he'll step down. He was projected in polls to win the federal election. 

"I wished him and Chloe [Shorten's wife] the best of luck for the future," Ardern said.

Ardern and Morrison last met in Christchurch where the Australian leader told her how impressed he was with New Zealand's response to the March 15 Christchurch terror attack. 

Newshub.