Peter Dutton pans Anthony Albanese’s ‘payback’ censure motion against Scott Morrison

Peter Dutton has accused Anthony Albanese of using a censure motion against Scott Morrison as ‘payback’.

Peter Dutton told the joint Coalition partyroom the censure is an ‘opportunistic swipe’. Picture: Gary Ramage

Peter Dutton has accused ­Anthony Albanese of using a censure motion against Scott Morrison as “payback”, ahead of a vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Leader of the House Tony Burke will move the motion on Wednesday morning, after the Prime Minister declared the Virgin­ia Bell inquiry into Mr Morrison’s secret ministerial appointments was “serious and devastating” for the former government.

The Coalition will reject the motion, although Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer confirmed she would vote for it. The censure will have no practical effect, but it will be symbolic and regarded as an opinion of the house, where Labor has a majority.

Acknowledging the “obvious gravity” of her decision to support the censure, Ms Archer told ABC TV it was important for the future of her party to look at the lessons of the past – including Mr Morrison’s actions – and “reset”.

Alex Hawke, left, with Morrison during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. Picture: Gary Ramage

The motion censures Mr Morrison, the member for Cook, for “failing to disclose his appointments to the House of Representatives, the Australian people and the cabinet, which undermined responsible government and eroded public trust in Australia’s democracy”. Just two censure motions have been moved against private members – excluding opposition leaders and Nationals leaders – such as Mr Morrison. He will become the first former prime minister to face being censured.

The Opposition Leader told the joint Coalition partyroom on Tuesday the censure was an “opportunistic swipe” and “clearly payback” by Mr Albanese against his predecessor.

Mr Dutton vowed to consider any government legislation to improve “clarity and transparency” on ministerial appointments while labelling the inquiry – instigated by Mr Albanese – a stunt.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the NBL launch of its Indigenous Round at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. Picture: Gary Ramage

“This is Anthony Albanese at his political brawler best and we will not be a part of it,” Mr Dutton said, according to a Coalition spokeswoman.

Mr Morrison stood up and thanked the partyroom for its support this week and since the election, the spokeswoman said.

The partyroom meeting came as former immigration minister Alex Hawke tried to push back against reports he had heavily criticised Mr Morrison, his closest factional ally, over the secret ministries saga.

In a statement Mr Hawke said he held Mr Morrison in the “highest regard” but did not deny reports in Nine newspapers that he had attacked the former prime minister’s decision to appoint himself to key cabinet posts.

“Like several other colleagues my only concern is in not ultim­ately being made aware of the unusual reserve administrative arrangements even though these were clearly emergency and pandemic related,” Mr Hawke said.

Mr Albanese said the former government knew about Mr Morrison’s appointments to health, finance, Treasury, home affairs and resources while he was prime minister. Addressing his caucus, Mr Albanese reflected on Barn­aby Joyce’s admission that he was aware Mr Morrison had given himself greater powers in the resources portfolio but didn’t question it publicly because he didn’t want to lose an extra Nationals ministry.