Governor-General David Hurley’s diary makes no mention of the five times he handed extra ministerial powers to then-prime minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Morrison took on the health, finance, treasury, home affairs, industry, science, energy and resources portfolios between March 2020 and May 2021.
He has faced heavy criticism for taking on the portfolios, in most cases without his colleagues’ knowledge, and some inside the Liberal party have called on him to resign.
But Mr Morrison’s actions have also drawn in the governor-general, who signed off on the appointments.
Greens senator David Shoebridge said Mr Hurley needed to clarify whether the decision not to disclose the appointments was his or Mr Morrison’s.
“Something is deeply broken when the governor-general tells the world that he has awarded a sash to a champion sheep dog but says nothing when he appoints the former prime minister to five new ministries,” Senator Shoebridge said.
Constitutional experts doubt Mr Hurley’s or Mr Morrison’s actions were illegal but have criticised the breach of convention.
Some inside Labor are mulling whether Mr Hurley needs to go, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has kept the focus on his predecessor.
The Governor General’s Program lists in detail the numerous activities of Mr Hurley, including phone calls, official events and luncheons.
Mr Morrison was secretly appointed health minister on March 14, 2020, with the knowledge of then-health minister Greg Hunt.
This is not recorded in Mr Hurley’s diaries. The day after though, he notes presenting the “Duke of Gloucester Sash” at the 2020 National Sheep Dog Trial Championships in Canberra.
Likewise on March 30, when Mr Morrison was given power as finance minister, Mr Hurley’s diaries don’t reference it.
However they do mention a series of phone calls Mr Hurley had, including from a member of Australia’s national security laws watchdog.
On April 15, 2021, Mr Morrison secretly co-opted powers of the industry, science, energy and resources portfolios.
He would later use this power to axe approval for a gas project off the coast of NSW, with the decision now before the courts due to the controversy.
Mr Hurley’s diary doesn’t mention the appointment. He attended a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, a collection of Commonwealth ministers who provide advice to the governor-general.
Days later he spoke with the Queen.
The next month, on May 6, when Mr Morrison took the treasury and home affairs ministries with Mr Hurley’s approval, the governor-general hosted some events before a dinner that night in Canberra.
Mr Hurley’s office has defended his actions, saying he followed processes and “had no reason to believe” Mr Morrison’s appointments would not be communicated.
