..................Mr Morrison worked closely with then Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick (also a nominee this year) to examine the defence force hierarchy top to bottom to enhance opportunities for women.

The exercise, he says, led him to see "issues that I hadn't seen as clearly as I needed to see – and once I saw them I couldn't unsee them."

After a lifetime career as a soldier, including four years as army chief, he stepped down in May last year and became chairman of the Diversity Council Australia. He is also on the board of Our Watch, a White Ribbon Ambassador and part of the Male Champions for Change organisation.

In November, the 59-year-old was named ACT Australian of the Year for leadership on gender equality and diversity, and says his mission now is to "make sure that everybody, irrespective of their gender or their race or the god they believe in, has the chance to reach their potential."

Domestic violence, he says, is a "complicated issue but I think its probably based on gender and equality as a general observation. I think there is a role for senior Anglo-Saxon, particularly male voices in this debate to point out that we can pride ourselves on our egalitarian nature in this country, but we still have a gender pay gap across all professions of nearly 18 per cent.

"We should pause, at times, all of us, and listen to the stories we are telling ourselves about ourselves, because they define our values. And some of those are not as focused on equality and a fair go as they should be."

Interviewed by leading feminist Anne Summers last year, Mr Morrison joked that he had "read more feminist literature in the last three years than most men would read in five lifetimes."

But he says tackling cultural change within defence was "the best thing I have ever done in my life.  I will never lose the passion for embracing true diversity in Australia and elsewhere, because that is the future of the planet."

Mr Morrison grew up in an army family, his father, Alan (Alby) Morrison becoming head of the Duntroon Military College. They are a rare example of both father and son reaching the rank of General in the Australian Army.

What don't you like about Scott, apart from his showing the western world how to stop illegal boat arrivals and his being a Liberal?

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 26^th, 2016 at 6:25am:



she will think of something.....he probably doesnt have lifetime membership of a union...lefties dont like that..,,,your either for us. or agin us..

Bobby. wrote on Jan 26^th, 2016 at 8:25am:



thats sad bobs... very sad... why your obsession is getting as bad as gweggies...

I can only b elieve you must attract the wrong kind...and its gueered your views..

bobs they are not queers... they are as we are humans but they have an extra Y..its not their fault...anymore than being born with a hole in their heart....it isnt their fault nor is it their choice....

stuff happens.. and I think we are so lucky today that medicine can help people feel better about themselves...

whats so hard about helping someone????>..

we spend zillions on jails...for people who choose to do what they do...and certainly wouldnt go into combat for you bobs...