Albanese astonished by Morrison's 'don't trust government' speech at church

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described his predecessor Scott Morrison's instruction to a Perth church not to trust government as "astonishing".

Morrison was speaking to the Victory Life Centre when he urged congregants to put their faith in God rather than government.

"We trust in Him," Morrison told the church.

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"We don't trust in governments. We don't trust in the United Nations, thank goodness."

He added there was value in the role of government.

"We don't trust in all these things, fine as they may be and as important as the role that they play," Morrison said.

"Believe me, I've worked in it and they are important."

Albanese expressed his astonishment at the address in an interview this morning.

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"I just thought, wow, this guy was the prime minister," he told the ABC.

"It provides some explanation perhaps as to why clearly he didn't lead a government that was worthy of the Australian people."

Albanese was especially irritated at his predecessor taking a jab at the United Nations.

"I've spent two months trying to repair our international relations," Albanese said.

"And that sort of nonsense throwaway conspiracy line about the United Nations isn't worthy of someone who led Australia."

Morrison remains the member for Cook in Parliament but has not sought a frontbench position in the opposition.

Victory Life Centre is a Pentecostal church founded in 1995 by former tennis player Margaret Court.

Morrison spoke for 50 minutes during the Sunday service.