Scott Morrison apologises to Karen Andrews after being urged by Peter Dutton

Scott Morrison has finally personally apologised to Karen Andrews after swearing himself in as a minister to her portfolio in secret.

Scott Morrison has phoned former home affairs minister Karen Andrews to personally apologise for secretly appointing himself to her department after he was criticised for leaving her on his no call list.

Despite calling former Finance Mathias Cormann and Treasuer Josh Frydenberg – whose portfolios he was also appointed to - it emerged this week that he had not offered a personal apology to Ms Andews.

Mr Morrison phoned Ms Andrews mid-morning after Liberal leader Peter Dutton urged him to do so.

He earlier issued a 1279 word explanation to his colleagues via Facebook that did not mention her by name.

Asked about the snub, Ms Andrews, who called for Mr Morrison to resign over the scandal on Tuesday, told Sky News she was “fine” but conceded Mr Morrison had not bothered to contact her.

“No. But look I understand he’s made a broad apology to his colleagues,’’ she said.

“He hasn’t spoken to me. The last conversation I had with Scott Morrison was during the last sitting weeks in Canberra.

“He has his way of managing things. I am fine.”

During a press conference in Sydney, Mr Morrison said he had apologised to those affected.

Scott Morrison apologised to his colleagues affected by the portfolio scandal in a 1279 statement on Facebook, but not all had been contacted in person. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

“Now, I understand the offence that some of my colleagues particularly have felt about this. I understand that and I have apologised to them,” he said.

“But equally, as Prime Minister, only I could really understand the weight of responsibility that was on my shoulders. I took the decisions that I thought I needed to take.”

He did not disclose that he had not apologised personally to Ms Andrews, who he refused to refer to by name, describing her in the nationally televised press conference as “the Member for McPherson.”

The former prime minister described his phone call with Mr Frydenberg where he apologised for his deceitful actions as “wonderful”.

“Well, I have had a wonderful conversation with Josh. We had one yesterday and we are the best of friends,’’ Mr Morrison said.

In fact, Mr Frydenberg has told colleagues he is “gutted” and “furious” over the deception and that he let the former Prime Minister know clearly that what he had done was unjustified, unnecessary and unacceptable.

Former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has lashed out at Scott Morrison in conversations with colleagues, despite the former Prime Minister labelling their conversation as “wonderful”. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

It’s not known if he personally apologised to former Attorney-General Christian Porter.

Mr Porter was consulted over the original idea of sharing responsibility in health but was left in the dark when Mr Morrison went on to use the powers in four more portfolios including Industry when Mr Porter moved there in 2021.

Ms Andrews said she “still didn’t understand the rationale behind it”.

Speaking on Sky News, she was asked about whether there was a link with an interview with the Murugappan family who have now returned to Biloela.

On May 4, 2021, Ms Andrews said she was considering releasing the Murugappan family into community detention on Christmas Island.

The family had been held in a detention facility for more than three years at that time.

A month later, daughter Tharunicca was taken from Christmas Island to Perth’s Children’s Hospital with sepsis and pneumonia.

After her stint in hospital, the family was released into community detention in Perth, with then-immigration minister Alex Hawke emphasising it was not a pathway to permanent resettlement.

“Look, not as far as I am aware,’’ Ms Andrews said.

Former Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has finally been apologised to. Pic Mike Batterham

The responsibility ultimately was with the Immigration portfolio.

Under fire from a furious media, Mr Morrison was grilled yesterday on why he appointed himself to the portfolios, and why he kept it a secret.

“I didn’t disclose it to them because I didn’t think it was for the best operation of the government during a crisis for which I am responsible. I appreciate Andrew, you mightn’t understand it because you haven’t been a prime minister in the middle of the worst crisis since the second world war,’’ he said.

Mr Morrison said he had sought advice from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet but would not say what the legal advice said or what it was.

“The advice that I received is a matter between me and the department,’’ he said.

“I said I sought advice from my department which is the standard process. Again, I don’t go into — as prime ministers and ministers don’t, because the advice that is provided is a matter between ministers and their departments.

Warning the media to “respect the privacy” of his family, Mr Morrison also used the press conference to complain he had media cameras camped outside his home.

“As a Member of Parliament, of course I’m accountable and I’m happy to be here today,” he said.

“But members of my family have nothing to do with this.”

Originally published as Scott Morrison apologises to Karen Andrews after being urged by Peter Dutton