One year later, loophole that allowed Scott Morrison to secretly grab power is closed

A fired up senate has finally closed a loophole that allowed Scott Morrison to secretly appoint himself to five portfolios during the pandemic.

Close to a year after a report found Scott Morrison “fundamentally undermined” the principles of responsible government, the loophole has finally been closed.

It emerged mid-last year the former prime minister had been secretly sworn in to administer the departments of treasury, home affairs, health, finance and industry, science, energy and resources during the pandemic.

He later became the first former prime minister to be censured on the floor of the House for eroding public trust in Australia’s democracy.

A landmark report by former High Court justice Virginia Bell recommended a legislative fix to ensure any ministerial appointments were made public.

Described as “vital” reform when first introduced to the parliament last December, the Bill sat dormant in the Senate for five months – despite having the numbers to pass it.

That was until Friday afternoon, when Labor moved to cut off debate in order to ram through four bills through the upper house in 30 minutes.

Mr Morrison secretly self-appointed himself to five ministries during the pandemic. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The reform was ultimately passed on the voices without any fanfare.

Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said it was “extraordinary” the loophole remained open for so long.

“This bill was the first and most important recommendation of the Bell Inquiry into the secret appointments, the report of which was delivered … in November 2022,” he told NCA NewsWire.

But it didn’t stop Liberal leader in the Senate, Simon Birmingham, who was up in arms about the move to guillotine debate.

“Cast your minds back to the lead up to the last election,” he said as he failed to move a motion to reopen debate.

“What were we promised by the Labor Party? … We were promised greater transparency, we were promised greater accountability, we were promised a new way of doing business.

Senator Simon Birmingham and Senator Penny Wong trade barbs over the guillotine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“But instead, we’ve just got the hypocrisy of the Labor-Greens alliance, who simply want to ram legislation through this place without enabling any consideration of it.”

The cut off meant debate on the government’s bill to expand the function of Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports could not be continued.

Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the Liberal deserved to be nominated an “Academy Award” for his performative outrage.

In return, Senator Birmingham fired back the Tasmanian would win a gold medal in gymnastics, for his backflip to vote with the government to shut down debate when on Thursday, it was slamming it for the same move.

The Foreign Minister found the debate, at time, funny. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Government leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, quickly got to her feet to remind the Opposition it was them who teamed up with the Greens last week to filibuster debate.

“The Coalition worked with the Greens political party, to not vote on a bill for six days,” she hit back.

“If you really wanted to talk about (the live exports bill), you might have made sure he didn’t play some political games on a bill you agree with.

“So let’s remember the hypocrisy.”