Scott Morrison has never been a politician prone to conceding error. Even so, the combative press conference to justify his actions in secretly extending his prime ministerial reach into his own colleagues’ portfolios was a standout example of defiance in the face of overwhelming odds – and political logic.

According to the former prime minister, the strident criticism of his behaviour ignores the context for his decisions. He biblically describes this as the need to “steer the ship in the raging tempest” of COVID rather than today’s “relative calm seas or safety of the shore”.