After being criticized by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Scott Morrison has yet to explain why he covertly swore himself in as minister of health, finance, and resources during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Monday afternoon, the former prime minister texted Sky News reporter Kieran Gilbert to say he had not read Mr Albanese’s remarks criticizing him for ‘keeping Australians in the dark’ about their government. No, I have not seen what he has said. Since leaving my position, I have not been involved in day-to-day politics,’ said Mr. Morrison, who remains in Parliament as a backbencher representing the Cook constituency.
Early in 2020, the then-prime minister decided he wanted to share authority with the incumbent health and finance ministers, Greg Hunt and Mathias Cormann, to prevent them from exerting undue control over the nation’s biosecurity laws and economy.
The proposal was approved by attorney general Christian Porter, according to the new book Plagued about the federal government’s response to the outbreak.
Mr. Morrison was also sworn in as minister of resources in 2021 to prevent Keith Pitt from authorizing a massive oil and gas project off the Central Coast, where Liberal members were under pressure from climate activists and green independents.
Concerned Mr. Pitt did not learn that the project had been terminated until December, when he wanted to proceed forward with it.
Mr. Albanese condemned the hidden activities and is seeking legal counsel to determine if they were lawful.
“This is absolutely remarkable. Monday in Melbourne, he told reporters that Australians want a prime minister who is focused on their assigned duties.
Bill Shorten on Scott Morrison: I don’t know whether he has a messianic complex or if he felt he was the Australian equivalent of Kanye.
The book, published by writers at The Australian, explains why Mr. Morrison sought to share authority with the health and finance ministers by stating that he thought there needed to be more checks and balances before any one minister could wield such power.
The health minister was responsible for closing the nation’s borders, while the finance minister oversaw Australia’s greatest fiscal stimulus in its history.
The powers could not be assigned to Cabinet, therefore Mr. Morrison “conceive[d] a bold and covert strategy with the consent of Porter.”
Mr. Hunt was aware of the decision, and Mr. Morrison, Mr. Hunt, and Mr. Porter believed that the measure protected “against any one minister having unlimited control.”
Monday at a news conference, Mr. Albanese criticized his predecessor.
The Australian populace was kept in the dark on ministerial plans. He said that that was utterly inappropriate.
“There is an essential necessity for transparent clarity. This situation never should have occurred.
“You know, we do have a non-presidential form of governance in our nation, but Scott Morrison centralized power, overrode ministerial decisions, and did it all in secret.” Government Services Minister Bill Shorten described the action as “strange” and accused evangelical Christian Mr. Morrison of having a “messianic” mentality.
He was out of the country and ghosting his own cabinet colleagues. Mr. Shorten said on ABC radio, “I don’t know whether it’s a messianic complex or if he felt he was the Australian equivalent of Kanye.”
I had no idea what was going through his mind. Why not inform people, why maintain secrecy?
This pertains to the Constitution and our whole system of governance. I have yet to get a satisfactory explanation from you.
Mr. Shorten said that Mr. Morrison’s action demonstrated that he “did not trust his colleagues.”