Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused his predecessor Scott Morrison of orchestrating an "unprecedented trashing of democracy", revealing the former PM secretly appointed himself to five ministries during the term of the previous government.
Mr Albanese said that in addition to appointing himself to the health, finance and resources portfolios, Mr Morrison also gave himself joint responsibility for home affairs, treasury and industry.
He said Mr Morrison took joint responsibilities for the health and finance portfolios in May 2020.
He took on home affairs and treasury in early May 2021, and industry, science and the resources portfolios the following month.
Morrison accused of misleading parliament
Mr Albanese said the former prime minister had undermined the checks and balances crucial to the Westminster system of government.
"[He was] operating in secret, keeping the operations of the government from the Australian people themselves," he said.
"He was misleading parliament as to who was holding what portfolios and who was responsible."
Mr Albanese said he would receive advice on the matter from the Solicitor-General next Monday.
"This is a sad indictment of not just Mr Morrison but his cabinet colleagues who sat back and allowed this to happen," Mr Albanese said.
"The implications are still being worked through.
"I cannot conceive of the mindset that has created this ... the way the government has functioned that has led to a point where.that occurs and how a cabinet allows that to happen.
"Once you go down that road of creating a cabinet committee with one member on it, so as to avoid scrutiny, it's not surprising that further steps will made."
Senior Liberal calls on Morrison to resign
Former home affairs minister Karen Andrews said she did not know Mr Morrison had assumed control over her portfolio, and said he should resign from parliament.
"I had absolutely no knowledge and was not told by the [prime minister, the prime minister's office] nor the department secretary," Ms Andrews said.
"This undermines the integrity of government.
"If this is the way that he is prepared to conduct himself without an adequate explanation — even though it is now going to be well past the time when such an explanation should have been made — then it is time for him to leave the parliament and look elsewhere for employment."
Mr Morrison assumed joint responsibility for her portfolio and oversaw the decision to publicly reveal the interception of a suspected asylum seeker boat on election day.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he was also waiting for further advice.
"Frankly it's time for cooler heads to prevail," he said.
"The Prime Minister's come out of his holidays's swinging but there are bigger issues that families of Australia are dealing with at the moment."
Potential for reform
Mr Albanese said he was open to "a range of reforms or suggestions" to prevent a repeat of Mr Morrison's actions.
"But let's be clear here. Conventions apply to the way that democracy functions," he said.
"It also is the case that the PM of the day tables info saying who is responsible for what."
Morrison backs in actions
Mr Morrison this morning defended the secret self-appointments, saying he only used the additional powers once to overrule his then-resources minister to block a petroleum exploration licence off the NSW Central Coast.
He said he took joint control of the ministries as a safeguard against COVID-19, though he acknowledged the move to block the petroleum licence was unrelated to the pandemic.
The former prime minister said disclosing the moves were a matter between him and the relevant ministers, and not for cabinet.
But he apologised for failing to inform former finance minister Mathias Cormann, saying that was an oversight on his part.
