'Hope, worship, reflection': Morrison, Shorten mark Easter Sunday

The leaders of Australia's major parties have highlighted the importance of family, reflection and worship in their Easter messages.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny sing during an Easter Sunday service at his Horizon Church at Sutherland in Sydney.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny sing during an Easter Sunday service at his Horizon Church at Sutherland in Sydney. Source: AAP

Scott Morrison has celebrated Resurrection Sunday surrounded by family and fellow congregants at his Pentecostal church in Sutherland.

Church elders greeted the nearly 1000 faithful with hugs, compliments and "Happy Easter! Happy Resurrection Sunday" as they arrived at Horizon Church's communion service.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny sing during an Easter Sunday service at the Horizon Church.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny sing during an Easter Sunday service at the Horizon Church. Source: AAP


Inside, three rows from the front and with wife Jenny by his side, the prime minister sang and clapped to the opening number celebrating a glorious day.

It was the first time media has been allowed to see Mr Morrison practising his faith at his own church, which he has attended for about a decade.


Senior pastor Brad Bonhomme said the service had the aim of delivering a message of hope.

Mr Bonhomme said the church sees the Morrisons as family and aims to provide them with a space to express their faith.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny (right) sing during an Easter Sunday service at his Horizon Church.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny (right) sing during an Easter Sunday service at his Horizon Church. Source: AAP


"We just treat them like every other family," he said.

Meanwhile, Bill Shorten has started his Sunday at a suburban Brisbane church.

Mr Shorten and his wife Chloe were joined by their three children Georgette, Rupert and Clementine for the Easter Sunday Anglican service.

Chloe's parents, Quentin and Michael Bryce, sister Revy and her daughter Lexie also attended.



The family wandered to St Andrew's in Indooroopilly, stopping briefly to offer the media their Easter blessings, before joining about 100 parishioners for mass.

The prime minister and opposition leader have agreed to pause their campaigns on Easter Sunday.

Thirty minutes before the truce took effect at midnight, Mr Shorten announced a $118 million package for veterans and their families.

Bill Shorten's family pictured after attending the Easter service at St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Brisbane.
Bill Shorten's family pictured after attending the Easter service at St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Brisbane. Source: AAP


Labor is promising more than 84,000 veterans a $10,000 boost to the amount they receive for funerals.

Some veterans are currently left out of pocket, receiving just $2000 in public assistance.

Labor is also promising $20 million for local communities to upgrade their war memorials, recognising those who served in lesser-known and modern conflicts.



It's been a stop-start campaign with Mr Morrison and opponent Bill Shorten calling a truce to electioneering on Good Friday and again on Sunday - although that has been stretched with both making public appearances.

On Saturday, Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny handed out Easter eggs to sick children at Westmead hospital.

He also promised to hand over $100 million for clinical trials in regional Australia that would tackle life-threatening cancers, diseases and conditions and $65 million for a new cystic fibrosis centre at the hospital in Sydney's west.


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3 min read
Published 21 April 2019 12:15pm
Updated 21 April 2019 8:26pm


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