Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces inquiry into Scott Morrison’s power grab

Anthony Albanese has revealed details of the inquiry into Scott Morrison’s secret control of five cabinet roles.

Fresh details about an inquiry into Scott Morrison’s secret ministry scandal have been released, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declaring it would be “extraordinary” if his predecessor did not co-operate with the review.

On Friday, Mr Albanese confirmed former High Court Justice Virginia Bell has been tapped to lead the inquiry, due to report back by November 25.

It will consider Mr Morrison’s appointment from March 2020 to May 2021 to the health, finance, resources, home affairs and treasury portfolios.

Mr Albanese released the detials of the inquiry on Friday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Speaking alongside Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Friday, Mr Albanese said the inquiry would be “quick and appropriate,” dismissing concerns it was a political witch hunt.

“We need to have transparency in the process because our system of parliamentary democracy relies upon conventions, relies upon the Westminster system of checks and balances,” he told reporters in Sydney.

In advice released on Tuesday, Solicitor-General Stephen Donoghue found Mr Morrison’s actions were legal but the power grab “fundamentally undermined” the principles of responsible government.

Mr Albanese said he wanted the inquiry to be “above politics” and was not about the nation’s Covid-19 response.

But asked if Mr Morrison could be compelled to appear before the inquiry, the Prime Minister said he would find it “extraordinary” if his successor did not talk.

“There will be the opportunity for public submissions and Virginia Bell will ask to speak to people who were involved or who had knowledge at the time,” he said.

“We chose not to go down the road of a royal commission. We think this gets the balance right.

“But if it was the case that Virginia Bell felt like she was not getting the co-operation that was required, then I’m certain that other measures could be considered.”

But the Greens said the inquiry would be hamstrung without the power to compel witnesses and investigate the role of the Governor-General.

“The government has put (Virginia Bell) in a very difficult spot by refusing to give her the power to summons uncooperative witnesses or compel the production of documents,” senator David Shoebridge said.

“The failure to include the Governor General and his office in the Terms of Reference leaves an inexplicable hole in the centre of this inquiry.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley accused the Prime Minister of being “obsessed and consumed by the politics of the past”, encouraging him to turn focus to the cost of living crisis.

Mr Morrison has previously said he would “appropriately assist in any genuine process to learn from the pandemic” but has not outright agreed to cooperating with a review into the saga itself.

Instead, he said any inquiry should also consider the decisions made by the states and territories.