NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet sledges Scott Morrison, joking he “doesn’t run every ministry”
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has delivered a savage sledge on Scott Morrison - and it’s not the first time he’s put the former PM back in his box.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has delivered a savage sledge on Scott Morrison quipping that he “doesn’t run every ministry.”
Speaking at budget estimates in NSW Parliament, Mr Perrottet was quizzed on the NSW government’s response to various scandals and controversies before joking that at least he’s not like the former Prime Minister.
“I am not Scott Morrison here. I don’t run every single ministry,’’ Mr Perrottet said.
“I have ministers to do their jobs.”
It’s not the first time Mr Perrottet has put Mr Morrison back in his box.
Last year, Mr Morrison let fly at the then NSW Treasurer during a private meeting, deploying the F-bomb in front of witnesses to express his displeasure at Mr Perrottet over negotiations to upgrade Covid-19 financial support.
Mr Perrottet told colleagues that he was genuinely upset by the Prime Minister’s refusal to listen to NSW’s views during a video conference to thrash out the finer details of the latest JobSaver package to help NSW families in lockdown.
But he was not prepared to deny that the Prime Minister swore at him during the meeting.
However federal government sources said “if anyone has had a go at Perrottet he probably deserved it”.
“He is just very painful to deal with,” a Liberal source said.
The exchange was first reported by author and columnist Niki Savva in The Sydney Morning Herald, where she claimed a “tired and cranky Prime Minister allowed his temper to get the better of him”.
“During the conference call, Morrison became increasingly belligerent with Perrottet’s questioning of elements of the package and focusing on the flaws,” she wrote.
“Morrison let loose, hurling the F-bomb at Perrottet. Perhaps Morrison forgot the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, and his federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg were also on the call, so it was far from a private exchange, like the torrid one over GST monies with the then Tasmanian treasurer now premier, Peter Gutwein, a few years ago.”
Savva continued, “Perrottet bit back, taking issue with the Prime Minister’s poor form and ill-disciplined outburst during a serious discussion on an important subject. Morrison backed off and apologised.”
In October, Mr Morrison conceded for the first time that he had dropped the f-bomb in a meeting with the incoming NSW premier Dominic Perrottet insisting it’s all part of the pair’s “honest relationship”.
Sunrise Host David Koch asked Mr Morrison: “What do you think of Dominic Perrottet? There’s talk you’ve clashed with him in the past. You dropped the f-bomb in a phone conversation with him?”
But instead of denying the reports, Mr Morrison said it was all part of the pair’s robust relationship.
“We have got an honest relationship,’’ he responded, prompting raucous laughter from Kochie.
“When we disagree, we disagree. But the next day we get back to work. That is how normal people get on with each other when they know each other well. And we do.”
Mr Perrottet, who came to lead the state after his predecessor Gladys Berejiklian was publicly probed by ICAC, has also shut down Mr Morrison’s criticism of ICAC.
He said the agency “plays an important role in upholding integrity and confidence in politicians and in public servants here in our state, and they have done that for many years”.
“Now, there will always be different views in relation to the judiciary, or the ICAC or integrity agencies, and people are entitled to have their opinions,” he said.
“But when we do have opinions, and we do raise concerns, we need to do so in a way that doesn’t undermine confidence in our integrity agencies.”
The resignation of the popular premier prompted Mr Morrison in November 2021 to slam the ICAC in federal parliament as a “kangaroo court”, a criticism he has revived amid the election campaign.
“What was done to Gladys Berejiklian … was an absolute disgrace,” Mr Morrison said at the time. “These matters should be looking at criminal conduct, not who your boyfriend is,” he told parliament.
ICAC commissioner Stephen Rushton, SC, slammed the language used by Mr Morrison and others when criticising the agency.
Anthony Albanese also fires a shot at ScoMo
Earlier today, Anthony Albanese warned Mr Morrison that being an MP is a full-time job after the former PM revealed would be taking on some mystery part-time gigs to supplement his income as the member for Cook.
Mr Morrison skipped the first week of parliament recently to speak at a leaders’ summit in Tokyo.
He later declared business class flights, accommodation and an undisclosed speakers’ fee for attending the event.
At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mr Albanese was asked by news.com.au whether it was fair enough that Mr Morrison earned income on top of his $211,250 salary.
“I think being a Member of parliament is a full-time job. And members of the House of Representatives have a great privilege and a great honour to represent their local communities,” he said.
“I’ve always represented my local community 365 days a year, regardless of what other positions that I’ve held.”
In a freewheeling discussion while enjoying a beer with Sky News host Paul Murray at the Wanda Surf Club, Mr Morrison revealed on Monday he’s also hoping to improve his golf handicap.
Mr Morrison took a savage pay cut when he lost the 2022 election with his income plunging from $500,000 to $211,250.
“I look forward to continuing to be a really effective local member of parliament,’’ Mr Morrison said.
“I’ve started playing golf again. I hadn’t picked up a club in about 15 years. I have picked up the bug a bit.”
But he then hinted there will be more mystery part-time jobs that could even involve his new passion – golf.
“I will be doing a bit more of things, possibly, you know, in addition to my parliamentary responsibilities, which many members of parliament do.”
Mr Morrison recently flew to Japan at the invitation of a Japanese billionaire Dr Handa Haruhisa who also sponsors golf tournaments.
Dr Handa previously had a contractual relationship with former prime minister Tony Abbott.
Mr Morrison’s financial interest register to parliament reveals he was paid an undisclosed cash amount and given free business class flights to Tokyo and luxury accommodation when he skipped the first week of parliament in July.
The new filing confirming Mr Morrison’s previously dormant family trust is now being used as a vehicle for “advisory services” but does not declare any income to date beyond speakers’ fees.
He’s also set up a new company called Triginta Pty Ltd, which is Latin for 30 and believed to be a reference to being Australia’s 30th prime minister.
Mr Morrison reveals he received an undisclosed payment for a sermon he delivered at Perth’s Victory Life Centre, the Pentecostal church run by former tennis champion Margaret Court.
While there’s no minimum to declare as “substantial income” the guidelines state it is usually over $1000 and comes amid speculation he may have been paid up to $50,000 to speak at international conferences in Asia.
His financial disclosure also confirms he was flown to Perth business class by the church on July 16.
Mr Morrison was invited to Perth to speak at the Victory Life Centre’s 27th anniversary.
At the event he revealed God had a plan for him, described anxiety as “Satan’s plan” and called for people to put their faith in Christ over governments.
“We trust in Him. We don’t trust in governments. We don’t trust the United Nations, thank goodness,” Morrison said in the Sunday sermon.
“We don’t trust in all of these things, fine as they might be and as important as the role that they play. Believe me, I’ve worked in it, and they are important.”
He also told the churchgoers that his election loss was part of God’s plan.
In the Sky News interview Mr Morrison also canvassed his “misunderstood” text message in which he said he no longer engaged in “day to day politics”.
The former prime minister, who was once accused of leaking his own text messages to the French President Emmanuel Macron, sent a text to Sky News’ chief anchor Kieran Gilbert over the multiple ministry scandal, which was then broadcast.
“I haven’t seen what he has said. Since leaving the job, I haven’t engaged in any day-to-day politics,’’ Mr Morrison said in the text, referring to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr Morrison said he understood why some voters were “upset about seeing that”.
“I’m into looking after my local community and doing that job every day, what I’m not into is getting engaged in the to-and-fro of the political circus,” Mr Morrison said.
He claimed the journalist “accepted” the text message, sent in relation to his ministerial power grab, was supposed to be private.
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