Scott Morrison ‘abdication hurts federation’, says Richard Marles

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles has accused Scott Morrison of putting the federation under enormous stress over internal borders.

Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles. Picture: Sean Davey

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles has accused Scott Morrison of putting the federation under enormous stress by “ceding his responsibilities” to the states in allowing them to unilaterally ­impose ad hoc COVID-19 border restrictions.

Mr Marles also told The Australian he was not sidelining opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers through his elevation to a newly created super portfolio ­focused on the post-pandemic ­recovery and said Anthony Albanese would lead the party to the next election.

The biggest winner from the Opposition Leader’s sweeping ­reshuffle last week, Mr Marles was given a roving brief that includes employment, skills, small business and science, putting him at the centre of Labor’s domestic policy debate.

Mr Marles said it was inevitable he would work closely with Dr Chalmers on the post-COVID-19 economic response.

“Jim leads our economic team and is doing a great job as the shadow treasurer,” he said.

“What we all are clear about is we need to make sure Labor is seen as a safe pair of hands when it comes to the economy.”

Mr Marles levelled criticism at the Prime Minister’s handling of the pandemic, declaring it was “patently ridiculous” to suggest the commonwealth had no say over state border restrictions.

“I think the premiers across the board have been doing a great job in managing their states and part of that inevitably means the way they’ve handled restrictions … but obviously there is a national dim­ension to this,” he said. “COVID is a national issue and the national government should be leading the nation. What we’ve seen with the Prime Minister is a complete abdication of his role here.”

Mr Marles said Mr Morrison’s decision to “leave the field” on ­issues such as borders had put the federation under enormous stress and healing the issue formed a key plank of his vision for national ­reconstruction.

“I think the idea issues such as internal borders are not a prime minister’s business is patently ridiculous,” he said.

In January, Mr Albanese ­accused Mr Morrison of outsourcing his responsibility on borders to the national cabinet. “I think the states, and I’m not critical of any of them, Labor or Coalition, have done a responsible job, listening to the various medical advice that they’ve got,” he said. “But everyone can see that at various times there hasn’t been co-ordination, including over things that are clearly a national responsibility.”

Mr Albanese moved on the reshuffle two days earlier than planned after elements of the shake-up leaked. Pressure on his leadership has grown in recent weeks, with predecessor Bill Shorten criticising his “tiny’’ policy agenda and other MPs privately questioning his tactics on a range of issues, ­including the Australia Day date.

Mr Marles quelled concerns, declaring Mr Albanese had done a “superb job” leading the party after a devastating defeat at the 2019 federal poll. “He has overwhelming support and he is going to lead us to the next election, there is no doubt about that.”

He said he was excited to be in a role that would marry his long-standing passion for science with the development of a vision for what the Australian economy could look like going into the middle of the century.

“We have a moment to reimagine Australia, which is probably something we haven’t had since the end of World War II,” he said.