Scandal, turmoil and political obscurity on repeat for Scott Morrison’s government

Alan Tudge and Rachelle Miller at the 2017 Mid-Winter Ball in Parliament House. Picture: ABC/Four Corners

The 2021 parliamentary year has ended the way it began — riddled with scandal, turmoil and political obscurity.

It could not have been messier for the Morrison government, which now looks like it is limping towards Christmas.

Any hope that it would survive the final week of parliament free of further controversy was well and truly sunk on the last sitting day.

With yet another cabinet minister shelved pending an investigation into behaviour and alle­gations of abuse of power – allegations that have been denied – the issue that engulfed the government in February and March is back to haunt it in December.

Rachelle Miller. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Alan Tudge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Scott Morrison acted swiftly to deal with the latest allegations. He had little choice.

Yet an investigation into Education Minister Alan Tudge’s relationship with former staffer Rachelle Miller will now ensure the Prime Minister will be continuing to deal with this issue into the new year.

So too, is Morrison now facing a stalled legislative agenda on the Coalition’s totemic social policy commitment – a religious discrimination bill.

Morrison will be more infuriated by the events of the past two weeks than he will be relieved that parliament is done for the year.

There would be a strong argument being made by colleagues that he forget parliament coming back next year at all and call an earlier election for March.

The religious discrimination bill is not an issue that will swing the election, and parliament presents as only further downside risk for the Coalition.

Voters will not have escaped the imagery of untidiness of the past fortnight.

Morrison’s path out of this political quagmire rests on the focus shifting back to the Labor leader.

Anthony Albanese will on Friday take the opposition’s climate change policy to a caucus meeting in which he will presumably seek endorsement for their 2030 targets and a road map for how Labor would achieve a net zero 2050 target without a carbon tax.

Waiting until parliament rose to reveal his position was deliberate. While it would have been madness to get in the way of a government engaged in self-inflicted harm, it is also a recognition that on this issue, he has a degree of political vulnerability. He will seek to find a middle path to neutralise the issue electorally.

Morrison revealed this week the line of attack the Coalition will pursue: the spectre of a repeat of 2010 and a minority Labor government in coalition with the Greens.

Albanese’s challenge is to ensure his partyroom can unite around a policy and not ignite an internal feud of his own.

Morrison’s challenge is to ensure the government doesn’t unravel further.