Big warning ahead of probe into Scott Morrison’s secret jobs

A review into former prime minister Scott Morrison’s conduct is “logical”, but a senior politician has warned against one thing.

An inquiry into Scott Morrison’s conduct should be wary not to “trash” the reputations of former political staffers and public servants, a senior Coalition frontbencher says.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised an independent review into the secret ministries saga to be led by a yet-to-be-chosen legal expert.

Details of the probe’s scope have yet to be finalised, leading to calls for the government to ensure it has the power to question bureaucrats and former political advisers over their role in the scandal.

Scott Morrison has been defiant in his defence of the saga. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA NewsWire

“We are examining the details of exactly what form of inquiry it should take, who should be responsible for that inquiry, and we’ll be making an announcement pretty soon,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Thursday.

But Coalition senator Simon Birmingham has warned the government against trashing reputations in the process.

“I would hope that any further review looks to see what further lessons there are for the future and further reforms that should be considered,” he told ABC Radio.

“Not necessarily to seek to go and trash anybody‘s reputation, be that in the public service or former political staffers or anyone else.”

Over two years, Mr Morrison secretly appointed himself to administer the health, finance, treasury, home affairs and resources portfolios.

Senator Birmingham, who served as finance minister during that time period, said it was “logical” a review should consider the role of others.

Simon Birmingham said a review was logical. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

“Logically, if they’re having (a review) then it should look at the role of others in terms of advice and the like that’s been provided,” he said.

“I would have thought there should have been questions asked down the track, when we got to appointments in things such as treasury and home affairs more than a year later.”

In defending the scandal, Mr Morrison told reporters last week there were people in his department and office who were “directly responsible for managing these specific things”.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said any inquiry had to get to the bottom of “why did the system fail”.

It comes as the Greens push for a parliamentary probe into Mr Morrison’s conduct after Speaker Milton Dick rejected a call to refer the ex-prime minister to the privileges committee.

“The former prime minister’s attack on democratic norms and conventions needs to be met with transparency and it needs to bring accountability,” senator David Shoebridge said.

Originally published as Big warning ahead of probe into Scott Morrison’s secret jobs