Former deputy PM sheds more light on Morrison’s additional ministries

A former very senior member of the previous government has revealed what he knew about Scott Morrison’s secret power grab.

Former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack says Scott Morrison “indicated” to him that he might “have to take over” additional ministries while he was in the top job.

In his advice released on Tuesday, Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue QC was scathing in his assessment of the former prime minister’s decision to secretly appoint himself to five portfolios over 2020 and 2021.

Mr McCormack on Wednesday continued to defend Mr Morrison, saying he had been making decisions to keep Australians safe from Covid-19.

“As I have done in previous interviews, I am happy to say I knew the fact that should Greg Hunt, health minister at the time, become incapacitated, the prime minister clearly stated that he would take over those responsibilities,” Mr McCormack told the ABC.

“But the prime minister at the time indicated: ‘I may well have to take over other portfolios’.”

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus welcomed the independent inquiry as necessary to prevent further scandal. Picture: Sean Davey

Mr Morrison’s political future is in question after Anthony Albanese announced cabinet had agreed to conduct a further inquiry into the secret ministry saga.

But senior Coalition frontbencher, and friend of Mr Morrison, Stuart Robert claimed the government’s pursuit of the former prime minister amounted to a “witch hunt”.

He singled out deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who on Tuesday said Mr Morrison should face “severe consequences”.

“You start to wonder what the government’s intent is. If it’s to ensure open, transparent, accountable government, then you’ll get every bit of support,” Mr Robert told ABC Radio.

“But Mr Marles has come in … it sounds like a political witch hunt. When you start to hear someone of that seniority say this is about a high political price being paid … that’s when people start to question motives.”

Labor assistant minister Tim Ayres rebuffed claims the inquiry constituted a “witch hunt”.

“Sometimes when you embark on a witch hunt, you find a witch,” Mr Ayres told the ABC.

“This has been an extraordinary aggregation of prime ministerial responsibility.”

Former prime minister Scott Morrison secretly appointed himself to five ministerial roles during the pandemic. Picture: Steven Saphore / AFP

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus wholly backed the fast tracked inquiry, which he said the Prime Minister would announce the terms for soon.

“This is a serious breach of convention, deeply alarming advice from the solicitor-general (and) that’s why we’re going to have a further inquiry,” he told The Today Show.

“As the Prime Minister said yesterday, we’ll make sure on our watch that every single appointment to the ministry is published and the inquiry is going to look at what we can do to change the law to make sure it never happens again.”

Mr Dreyfus has revealed Mr Morrison could be called upon to testify as to how the appointments happened and who knew about them.

“We need to hear from him and the other ministers in the former government to get to the bottom of what happened,” he told ABC News Breakfast.

In a post on social media, Mr Morrison cautiously conceded lessons could be learned from the inquiry and indicated he would participate in the process.

However, he indicated it should focus on the pandemic response of the states and territories as well. Mr Dreyfus accused the former prime minister of trying to “hide behind the pandemic”.

“This had nothing to do with the pandemic,” he told The Today Show.

“This was a power grab by Mr Morrison, appointing himself to five ministries. It is deeply concerning.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has strongly condemned Scott Morrison’s secret appointments. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The inquiry was supported by former prime minister Tony Abbott, who said it would provide the best forum for determining what occurred.

“I’m just not gonna (sic) defend what was done,” he told Sky News on Tuesday.

“On the other hand, we’ve got a report from the solicitor-general. It clearly says that there was nothing illegal done, but it also clearly indicates that it is just highly unconventional, highly unorthodox and shouldn’t have happened.”