Liberal MPs believe Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as treasurer and home affairs minister to prevent a refugee family being granted permanent residency and make sure Chinese companies didn’t buy up key Australian assets.
The former prime minister, who covertly appointed himself to five portfolios without telling his ministers or the public, claimed he did so as a ‘safeguard’ incase key members of his Cabinet became incapacitated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
But that does not explain why he assumed the powers of the treasurer and home affairs minister in May 2021, more than a year after Covid-19 hit Australia.
Scott Morrison (pictured with wife Jenny) secretly swore himself in to five portfolios
Liberal MPs believe he wanted the power to overrule his ministers and make key decisions, just like when he overrode resources minister Keith Pitt to reject a gas project off the NSW Central Coast in December 2021.
According to well-connected Australian Financial Review journalist Phil Coorey, one theory among Liberal MPs is that Mr Morrison wanted home affairs powers to make sure a refugee Sri Lankan family was not granted permanent residency.
Mr Morrison was apparently worried that home affairs minister Karen Andrews would go soft on the family which had been fighting deportation for years after arriving illegally by boat.
The Albanese government has since granted the family permanent residency, a move that has been blasted by Ms Andrews as ‘encouraging’ to people smugglers.
Perhaps Scott Morrison wanted home affairs powers to makes sure a refugee Sri Lankan family (pictured) was not granted permanent residency
Meanwhile, some Liberals believe Mr Morrison wanted to share the treasury portfolio with Josh Frydenberg to make sure Chinese companies did not buy up any key Australian assets.
The treasurer has the power to reject acquisitions under foreign investment laws.
Coorey speculated that Mr Morrison was ‘micro-managing’ by overseeing his ministers’ jobs.
Both Ms Andrews and Mr Frydenberg are furious that their authority was undermined without their knowledge.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has said having two home affairs ministers made the country ‘vulnerable’ because one person needs to make quick decisions to keep the nation safe such as during a terror attack.
Mr Morrison insisted he never had to use his powers in those portfolios. He said he was simply making sure he had ultimate decision-making power.
‘People know where the buck stops and the buck stops with the prime minister,’ he told 2GB on Tuesday.
The former Prime Minister has provoked widespread outrage after it emerged he gave himself the powers to act as health minister, finance minister, resources minister, home affairs minister and treasurer in 2020 and 2021.
Anthony Albanese said the move ‘trashed our democracy’ and has launched an investigation to find out if any laws were broken.
Liberal figures from Malcolm Turnbull to Peta Credlin have also blasted the former PM’s secretive power grabs.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said he was not aware of the decisions but would not be calling for Mr Morrison to resign.
He said it was time for ‘cooler heads to prevail’ before downplaying the issue by saying: ‘The number one issue people are raising is cost of living.’
Speaking in Canberra on Tuesday, Mr Albanese said his predecessor made a mockery of Australia’s Westminster system of government which is designed to ensure power does not reside with one person.
‘This has been government by deception,’ he said after receiving a briefing from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
‘Scott Morrison, and others who were involved in this, deliberately undermined those checks and balances that are so important and essential for our democracy.’
Mr Albanese does not believe Mr Morrison was paid extra for the roles.
Ex home affairs minister Karen Andrews (pictured) has furiously demanded Mr Morrison resign