Scott Morrison reacts to secret portfolio appointments, Anthony Albanese seeks legal advice

Ex-Prime Minister Scott Morrison has responded to revelations he secretly swore himself into key portfolios during the pandemic.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has blasted Scott Morrison for secretly swearing himself in as minister in key government portfolios during the pandemic, and is seeking advice on the issue.

It comes after revelations the former Prime Minister was sworn in to take over three portfolios during the pandemic, in a move that was never made public or revealed to his colleagues.

In early 2020, he was appointed as the second Health Minister and second Finance Minister, and in April 2021 he was appointed to take control of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

Mr Albanese described the events as “extraordinary and unprecedented”.

“In Australia, we have a Westminster system of Government that produces accountability. This is the sort of tin-pot activity that we would ridicule if it was a non-democratic country,” he said.

Mr Morrison told Sky News on Monday afternoon: “I haven’t seen what he [Albanese] said”.

“Since leaving the job, I haven’t engaged in any day-to-day politics,” he added.

The former Prime Minister did not respond directly to the revelations.

Australian Governor-General David Hurley was “following normal process” when he swore Mr Morrison into multiple ministerial roles without making it public, a spokesperson said in a statement.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be seeking legal advise from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet following revelations Scott Morrison was secretly appointed to key ministerial roles during the pandemic. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Albanese said he asked for briefings from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

“They are seeking advice on this,” he said.

“There’s a whole lot of questions arising from this – what did Peter Dutton and other continuing members of the now shadow ministry know about these circumstances?

“How is it that the Australian people can be misled? We know now that Scott Morrison was not only being Prime Minister, but was Minister for Health, was Minister for Industry, Science and Resources and was Minister for Finance.

“We all know that Scott Morrison had trouble doing the (main) job that he had. Perhaps it was because he was doing so many different jobs that we didn’t know that he had.”

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison was sworn is as second health minister and second finance minister in 2020. He is pictured here during Question Time in early August. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Albanese also questioned how the Governor-General could swear in Mr Morrison into portfolios without there being transparency.

“It’s clear that the Australian people deserve explanations,” he said.

“This is very contrary to our Westminster system. It is unbecoming. It was cynical, and it was just weird.

“Australians will be scratching their heads today knowing that the government that they thought was there wasn’t actually the Australian government at all.”

Australian Governor-General David Hurley confirmed he allowed Scott Morrison to secretly be appointed into mutiple ministerial roles during the pandemic. Picture: Getty Images

In a statement from the Governor-General’s office, a spokesperson said he was acting on the advice of Mr Morrison “to administer portfolios other than the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet” and the decision to make the arrangements public was a matter for “the government of the day”, reports news.com.au.

“The appointments were made consistently with section 64 of the Constitution,” a spokesperson said.

“It is not uncommon for ministers to be appointed to administer departments other than their portfolio responsibility. These appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony - the Governor-General signs an administrative instrument on the advice of the Prime Minister.

“Questions around appointments of this nature are a matter for the government of the day and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.”

FORMER MINISTERS RESPOND

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said he did find out at some point about the arrangements involving the Health Minister Greg Hunt but did not know of the secret arrangements involving the Finance portfolio or resources.

Former Industry Minister Angus Taylor was also unaware that the Prime Minister was sworn into his own portfolio.

Former Resources Minister Keith Pitt said he was made aware of Mr Morrison’s appointment to the portfolio in late 2021, during discussions over the controversial oil and gas project off the coast of New South Wales.

“There is no doubt it was unusual,” he told Sky News.

“I am not going to throw him under a bus, I am just not. It’s clearly something I was concerned about.”

Mr Pitt wanted the project to proceed but Mr Morrison overruled him.

Former Finance Minister Mathias Cormann also said he was never informed that the former Prime Minister has sworn himself into his portfolio.

Originally published as Scott Morrison reacts to secret portfolio appointments, Anthony Albanese seeks legal advice