Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, says he will investigate accusations that his predecessor, Scott Morrison, accepted three positions in the cabinet in secret.
According to local media, Mr. Morrison became joint minister for the health, finance, and resources ministries for two years until he lost power in May.
Mr. Albanese stated that he will seek legal counsel against the judgments, which he described as “unacceptable” and “simply bizarre.”
The former prime minister refused to comment.
Governor-General David Hurley, the Queen’s representative in Australia, acknowledged on Monday that he had signed an “administrative instrument” allowing Mr. Morrison to assume the posts in secret. A spokeswoman stated that it was “compatible with section 64 of the constitution.”
However, Mr. Albanese, legal experts, and Mr. Morrison’s former colleagues have criticized its secrecy.
Reportedly, some ministers were unaware that they shared ministries with the former prime minister.
Mr. Albanese told reporters on Monday, “This is the sort of ‘tin pot’ activity that we would criticize if it occurred in a non-democratic country.”
According to local media, former Health Minister Greg Hunt pledged in 2020 to share his ministry should he become debilitated from Covid.
According to a story by News.com.au, the then-Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, who is now the chairman of the OECD, only realized this week that his position had been jointly held.
In addition to Keith Pitt, Mr. Morrison was sworn in as a second minister of natural resources last year. Mr. Pitt opposed Mr. Morrison’s decision to block a gas development license in New South Wales using his authority.
Mr. Albanese stated that he would not speculate on future legal counsel, although he did accuse his predecessor of governing “in the shadows.”
Mr. Morrison stated that he was unaware of Mr. Albanese’s statements when he was asked to respond to them. Since leaving the position, I have not been involved in politics daily,” he told.
Barnaby Joyce, who will be Mr. Morrison’s deputy beginning in June 2021, stated that he had no prior knowledge of the nominations.
“I discovered this, and I disagree with it. I support a cabinet system of government in which each minister is accountable for their responsibility. We lack a presidential system of governance “Mr. Joyce stated to Channel 7
The center-right alliance lost the general election in May by a significant margin. It lost a large number of seats in urban areas, where climate action and political integrity were viewed as crucial issues.
During a July speech in Perth, Mr. Morrison sparked controversy by advising churchgoers “don’t trust in governments” and “don’t trust in the United Nations.”
This is “strange.”
This is what Mr. Albanese and several constitutional experts have stated in the reports.
There are so many questions that confusion is understandable. Nobody knows who knew what and when.
During the height of the pandemic, it would be typical for a leader to ensure that a replacement is available if a minister becomes incapacitated.
But there are numerous ways to accomplish this. Why must it have been him? And even more importantly, why the secrecy?
Currently, nothing about this works. Here, however, is why this might potentially be a major issue.
For a leader of any nation, let alone a democracy, to assume multiple portfolios without the knowledge of the public or his colleagues present significant concerns.
This also indicates, if true, that the then-prime minister may have intended to consolidate power so that he would make the ultimate decisions.
Keep in mind that this occurred at a period when Australia was in and out of lockdowns and the Morrison administration was under fire for how it managed the vaccine program.
As stated by the current prime minister, it appeared that even Scott Morrison lacked trust in his administration.
