‘Intimidation and retribution’: Scott Morrison attacks government over censure motion

Scott Morrison has conceded he went too far when he acquired the treasury and home affairs portfolios in an otherwise defiant speech in which he accused the Albanese government of “intimidation” and “retribution” in bringing a censure motion against him.

In a lengthy and impassioned response to parliament on Wednesday morning in the final sitting week of the year, the former prime minister urged his political opponents to consider his position during the coronavirus pandemic when Australia was “fighting for our very survival”.

“I am proud of my achievements in this place, and I am proud of my government, Mr Speaker. I am proud, Mr Speaker, [that] at a time of extreme trial, my government stood up and faced the abyss of uncertainty that our country looked into and the coercion of a region and saw Australia through the storm,” Morrison told the House of Representatives.

“Australia emerged stronger under my government. I have no intention now of submitting to the political intimidation of this government, using its numbers in this place to impose its retribution on a political opponent.”

The motion contained the findings of the inquiry by former High Court judge Virginia Bell, who said the former prime minister “fundamentally undermined” the principles of responsible government in obtaining five extra ministries because he was not responsible to the parliament, and that his actions were “corrosive of trust in government”.

It was passed shortly after noon with 86 votes for and 50 against.

Morrison criticised the motion as being “entirely partisan” and the actions of an opposition, rather than a government, and repeated that, apart from revoking the licence of an offshore gas exploration project under former resource minister Keith Pitt’s portfolio, he did not exercise his extra powers.

Morrison defended his actions as entirely lawful but lent his support to implementing the recommendations of the Bell inquiry, which include greater transparency laws.

Among his admissions, Morrison said he now considered it was “unnecessary” to have taken on the portfolios of treasury and home affairs, which he said he did to be able to take “swift action if necessary in the national interests in a time when Australia’s interests were under constant threat”.

“Insufficient consideration was given to these decisions at the time, including non-disclosure,” Morrison said.

But, he said, he would have told people what he had done had he been asked.

“Had I been asked about these matters at the time at the numerous press conferences I held, I would have responded truthfully about the arrangements I had put in place,” he said.

Morrison offered a qualified apology in his speech.

“I acknowledge that the non-disclosure of arrangements has caused unintentional offence and extend an apology to those who were offended,” he said. “But Mr Speaker, I do not apologise for taking action, especially prudent redundancy action, in a national crisis in order to save lives and to save livelihoods.”

“I gave it everything I had. I did it to the best of my ability,” he concluded.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected Morrison’s explanation saying management of the pandemic was “not a one-man show”.

“I came here not certain as to whether I would speak. But I have to respond to the [former] prime minister’s comments, who has confirmed again, that he just doesn’t get it,” Albanese said.

“The former prime minister said this morning that he had conversations ‘privately with my colleagues’. It’s not about [former treasurer] Josh Frydenberg. It’s about the people of Australia. That’s who we’re accountable to.

“I thought this morning that we would see some contrition – some. A semblance of contrition. We got none of that. We got hubris and we got arrogance and we got denial.”

Leader of the house Tony Burke moved the motion against Morrison for failing to disclose his five secret ministries to parliament, his cabinet colleagues, and the Australian people.

Burke said Morrison’s actions “undermined responsible government and eroded public trust in Australia’s democracy”.

“Today is not how any office wanted to make history,” Burke said.

“But censure, while rare, has its place.”

The motion also contained the findings from the inquiry by Bell, who said the former prime minister “fundamentally undermined” the principles of responsible government because he was not responsible to the parliament, and that his actions were “corrosive of trust in government”.

The text of the censure motion also noted the constitution provides for responsible government in which the executive is accountable to the parliament and through that, to the voters.

Liberal backbencher Bridget Archer said she was “deeply disappointed” by Morrison’s lack of apology.

“I do not accept any of the explanations put forward by the former prime minister for the actions, and I’m deeply disappointed for the lack of apology or more importantly, the lack of understanding of the impact of the decisions,” Archer told parliament.

“We did fare so much better than many other developed countries due to measures implemented by the government in the midst of the pandemic. And the member for Cook is to be commended for much of his pandemic leadership in Australia.

“But, a move to ensure direct power was quietly held over a number of portfolios, unbeknownst to our own party, our own ministers and to the Australian public was entirely unnecessary.”

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