Josh Frydenberg not told Scott Morrison had sworn himself in as treasurer

In one of the most extraordinary events in ministerial history, Scott Morrison was treasurer – along with Josh Frydenberg – yet the Liberal deputy leader had no knowledge of this.

Scott Morrison took on the treasury portfolio without informing Josh Frydenberg. Picture: Adam Taylor

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg was never informed by Scott Morrison that the former prime minister had himself sworn in as treasurer of Australia in May 2021.

In one of the most extraordinary events in Australian ministerial history Mr Morrison was treasurer – along with Mr Frydenberg – for the last year of the Morrison government yet Mr Frydenberg, the Liberal deputy leader, had no knowledge of this. Nor was Mr Frydenberg informed that Mr Morrison had himself also sworn in as finance minister from March 2020.

These events are without precedent in national politics. That Mr Frydenberg was never told by Mr Morrison is baffling given the close ties between them.

Josh Frydenberg was approached by colleagues in late 2021 to challenge Scott Morrison for the leadership but declined. Picture: Jason Edwards

The growing mood in Coalition ranks is one of anger and bewilderment at Mr Morrison’s swearing himself into five portfolios in addition to the existing ministers. This follows Anthony Albanese’s revelation on Tuesday that his advice was that Mr Morrison was sworn in to five extra portfolios in addition to the office of prime minister.

These revelations are certain to convulse the Liberal Party and turn many MPs against Mr Morrison. Mr Frydenberg, now out of politics and employed in the private sector, was strictly loyal to Mr Morrison during the traumas of the past term.

In late 2021 Mr Frydenberg was approached by a number of colleagues asking him to challenge Mr Morrison for the leadership but he declined all such pressures.

While the Prime Minister attacked both Mr Morrison and former cabinet ministers in his comments on Tuesday, the mounting evidence is that this project was overwhelmingly the work of Mr Morrison as prime minister. It seems that Mr Morrison having initially used this method in relation to the health portfolio, then applied it to a range of senior portfolios without at the time informing the existing ministers.