Australia to investigate ex-PM Morrison’s secret appointment to five ministries

Aug. 23 () –

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday a new investigation against his predecessor in office, Conservative Scott Morrison, for secretly taking over five ministries during the last two years of his term.

“Mr. Morrison’s behavior undermined our parliamentary democracy and he must be held accountable for it,” said Albanese, who hopes the investigation will clarify “why this happened, how it happened, who knew about it, and what the implications were.”

Albanese has referred to an investigation made public this Tuesday by the Australian Attorney General’s Office in which it is criticized that Morrison’s appointment to these ministries was made secretly, without the knowledge of even part of his government.

“Neither the people nor the Parliament can hold a minister responsible for the exercise — or more importantly, for the non-exercise — of his legal powers if they do not know that the minister has those powers,” the report states.

Morrison was secretly appointed as Deputy Minister for the portfolios of Health, Finance, Home Affairs, Treasury, and Resources and Industry between 2020 and 2021 by Governor General of Australia, David Hurley.

Morrison has justified these maneuvers by the “unprecedented” difficulties brought by the coronavirus pandemic. However, these revelations have sparked outrage across the political spectrum, with calls even from within his own party for him to vacate his seat in Parliament.