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Turning to state news for a moment, and a months-long search to replace Victoria’s outgoing ombudsman has come to an end.

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission chief executive Marlo Baragwanath will replace Deborah Glass as the Victorian ombudsman (VO) when her 10-year term expires on March 30.

The state government said today the appointment followed a “thorough and competitive” recruitment process. Baragwanath was recommended to the premier by a selection panel and her appointment was then endorsed by cabinet.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the new ombudsman would be well-prepared to take up her role next month.

“I would also like to acknowledge the service of Deborah Glass over the past decade – leading the organisation as it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013 and during the period of IBAC’s establishment, which refocused the VO’s efforts on fairness, while IBAC focused on corruption matters,” Allan said.

Late last year, Glass handed down a report that found there was an “excessive” culture of fear and secrecy in Victoria’s public service.

She also warned that her office is hamstrung by its inability to access cabinet documents.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is now giving his speech thanking Morrison for his leadership, saying the former prime minister has been “quite modest” in his final speech.

“In his maiden speech, the member for Cook spoke about predominantly three issues - family, faith, the Australian vision – and he also spoke about a fourth, which he spent a lot of time on today, which was forgiveness. So there’s a consistency in Scott Morrison that we saw 16 years ago and that was evidenced again today,” Dutton said.

“I think that’s really what has been at the heart of Scott’s continued success as leader, as prime minister, as local member, as father and husband.”

“Scott has been quite modest in his speech today, because if you go back through some of the significant achievements – not just as prime minister, but as immigration minister, his achievements as treasurer, retaining the AAA credit rating, presiding over a series of decisions which were tough decisions but ultimately in the country’s best interests, and delivered us back to a balanced budget position.”

Finishing his speech, Scott Morrison touches on his devotion to religion, saying he has no shame in his faith that guided him through his prime ministership.

“I leave this place appreciative and thankful, unburdened by offences, and released from any bitterness that can so often haunt post-political lives. This is due to my faith in Jesus Christ,” he said.

“To those who may feel uncomfortable with my Christian references and scripture references here or at other times, I can’t apologise for that. Because of what it says in Romans 1:16: ‘For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is in the power of those who believe.’

“And Timothy 1:17: ‘I am not ashamed. I am convinced he is [able] … to entrust what I have given to him until that day.’

“Thank you, all those who have joined me here today, or are listening elsewhere, for your kind attention. And, as always – up, up, Cronulla!”

Touching on his public policy, the former prime minister says he would like to reflect on the things he learned along the way in dealing with the challenges of the future.

“All good governments must start with nurturing a strong, innovative, dynamic, entrepreneurial, market-based economy,” Morrison told parliament.

He spoke of his government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying at the end of the pandemic he was pleased to note that “after six years of painstaking effort, we had restored the budget to balance and maintained our AAA credit rating”.

“This was achieved by focusing on economic growth and containing growth in public spending, which at the time our government had the lowest rate of growth in public spending of any government for decades,” he said.

“Australia would emerge with one of the lowest fatality rates from COVID in the developed world. When compared to the average fatality rates of OECD countries, Australia’s response saved more than 30,000 lives. We were described as the gold standard of COVID responses by Bill Gates at the Munich Security Conference.”

Morrison also spoke about the importance of standing firm against coercion of “an aggressive Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, who thought we would shrink when pressed”.

“Indeed, we not only stood firm, but worked with our allies and partners and those in our region who countered this threat to regional peace, prosperity and stability. AUKUS, the Quad, new trading and defence relationships, the first-ever strategic defence co-operation partnership of any nation with ASEAN,” he said.

Morrison warned that the authoritative Chinese government requires continued vigilance.

“Investors are now rightly pricing the risk of their investments in an authoritative communist China, while consumer advocates are waking up to human rights abuses and environmental degradation that infects these supply chains,” he said.

“This requires continued vigilance and the connection between all spheres of policy to create and protect supply chains, integrate and align our strategic and military capabilities, so we can protect our sovereignty and counter the threat that is real and building.”

The former prime minister’s final parliamentary speech has contained many Taylor Swift song references, saying his girls Abbey and Lily suggested he should “play a type of Taylor Swift bingo”.

“I’m wearing the bracelet, by the way – has ‘ScoMo’ on it. And they said, by trying to work the names of every single Taylor Swift album into my remarks ... Well, what’s a dad to do? Here I go,” he said.

It is true that my political opponents have often made me see red. Often when subjected to the tortured poets who would rise to attack my reputation.

In response, I always thought it important to be fearless and speak now. Or forever hold my silence and allow those attacks to become folklore. Ever since leaving university in ...1989.

My great consolation has always been my lover, Jen ... who has always been there for me whenever I needed her from dawn, and beyond the many midnights we have shared together.

See? I’m actually a true new romantic after all. I can assure you there is no bad blood. As I’ve always been someone who has been able to ... shake it off.”

“Anything for my daughters,” Morrison says to chuckles in the chamber.

Scott Morrison has gone on to thank Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancee Jodie Haydon, congratulating the couple on their engagement.

“To the prime minister and your now-new fiancee, Jodie – congratulations on your engagement. Jenny and I wish you all the very best for your life together. At some point, this all ends,” he said.

“And while there are no hard feelings, I obviously will be supporting my colleagues – Peter Dutton – to ensure that they hasten [that] sooner rather than later.

“But when it does, you’ll look around and Jodie will be there. And I can assure you, as Jen has been, it makes a world of difference.”

Holding back tears, Scott Morrison thanks two staff members from his Australian Federal Police protection team who were injured in a car accident during his election campaign in Tasmania.

Morrison focused on the AFP officers Travis Ford and Jen McCrea as he paid tribute to the support he received from staff during his term as prime minister.

He took a moment to pause and drink a glass of water as his voice shook.

“I want to specially mention Travis Ford and Jen McCrae, who were terribly injured in the line of duty protecting me ... in a terrible car accident in Tasmania. I will always be grateful for your sacrifice,” he said.

“When their colleagues rushed to them at the scene, their first words were – not knowing what had occurred – ‘... is the boss OK?’ Thank you.”

Morrison also went on to thank many MPs across the political spectrum, including Josh Frydenberg, Michael McCormack, Marise Payne, Michaelia Cash, Ben Morton and Alex Hawke.

“Alex Hawke, who sits here to entertain me every question time still – plenty of entertainers, thank you,” he said.

Scott Morrison thanks his constituents in Cook, saying it has been a “great privilege” to have served them.

Speaking in parliament, the former prime minister said today was not an opportunity to run through a bullet-point list of achievements, but more importantly, it was time to express his appreciation.

“To my constituents in Cook. It has been my great privilege to have served you as your local member in this parliament for … more than 16 years, where you have been kind enough to elect me on six successive occasions. I thank you for the tremendous and steadfast support you have provided to me and my family, who join me here today,” he said.

Morrison touched on his varied slogans during his time particularly as prime minister, saying he had always been guided by the strong local values of his community, family and small business.

“What I described as the fair go for those who have a go. This is what makes the Shire and southern Sydney such a great place to live and raise a family – and there are plenty of quiet Australians who understand that as well,” he said.

“I particularly thank the myriad community organisations and sporting clubs, school communities, volunteers, small businesses, church and charitable groups that make our local community – as they do all of our communities – so great and so resilient, including my beloved Sharks.”