On Monday, many new revelations came to light about former Australian Scott Morrison. Investigations done by the Department of Prime Minister have revealed that Morrison held five portfolios alone before losing the elections in May.
Eluding public knowledge, former PM Scott Morrison held five portfolios secretly between March 2020 and April 2021. Current PM Anthony Albanese and several people from his cabinet are now criticizing him for undermining Australia’s democracy. Morrison, however, still insists that he had good intentions. Most of the members of parliament, his cabinet and even the ministers holding the very same portfolios had no idea about Morrison’s secrecy, let alone the public.
Scott Morrison and his five other roles
Mr Albanese called out Morrison on his behaviour and said that this (scandal), “deliberately undermined the checks and balances that are so important and essential for our democracy”.
While still in office, Morrison gave himself five more roles in the cabinet in addition to the role of Prime Minister. Starting from May 2020, he assumed the roles of health and finance minister. Then, in April 2021 he was in charge of resources and by May 2021 he took upon the role of the treasury.
Further commenting on the incident, Albanese said, “It’s completely extraordinary that these appointments were kept secret by the Morrison government from the Australian people”. Albanese is in legal consultations with the solicitor general Dr Stephen Donaghue regarding what to do next. As for his accomplices, Albanese says, “This is a sad indictment of not just Mr Morrison, but all those Cabinet colleagues of his who sat back and allowed this to happen”. “And not just Mr Morrison, but others who were involved in this need to be held to account.”, he further added.
Morrison’s response
Morrison, however, remained defensive of his actions. The Liberal leader, who lost the election in May has ironically built his image on his ‘trustworthiness’. He claims that “he acted in good faith in a crisis”, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that his actions were safeguarding measures against “an unprecedented time”. While talking to a radio station 2GB, he argued, “We had to take some extraordinary measures to put safeguards in place. “Sometimes we forget what was happening two years ago and the situation we were dealing with. It was an unconventional time and an unprecedented time.”
Further defending himself, he said, “I used such powers on one occasion only. I did not seek to interfere with Ministers in the conduct of their portfolio…”. Also admitting his mistake, he said that his actions were unnecessary in the hindsight.
Claiming he assumed the role to overturn controversial decisions, “I believe I made the right decision in the national interest.” As the resources minister, he had overturned one decision in the interest of the people. In 2021, he overturned former minister Keith Pitt’s gas exploration project. The project, based off the coast of New South Wales had not boded well with the locals. “This was the only matter I involved myself directly within this or any other Department”, said Morrison. On the other hand, he did not give any further explanation of the other roles he took.
Former Home Minister Karen Andrews also took a jab at him saying, “You can’t govern in a veil of secrecy”. Like other ministers, Andrews was also unaware that Morrison had taken over their roles alongside them. “The Australian people have been let down, they have been betrayed”, she said. “For a former prime minister to have behaved in that manner…” she said, “undermines the Westminster system…” she added.
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