Canberra announces independent inquiry into Morrison's power abuse
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A Solicitor's report finds that the ex-Australian PM is guilty of undermining governmental principles, thus the inquiry.
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Canberra announces independent inquiry into Morrison's power abuse
Australia's former Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be facing an independent investigation after a report concluded that he "fundamentally undermined" governmental principles by sneakily abusing ministerial powers.
Incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Canberra's plans to open an inquiry after Solicitor General Stephen Donaghue released a report revealing that Morrison assigned himself the roles of multiple ministers without notifying the public or the Parliament; he was secretly a self-appointed joint minister for treasury, finance, health, home affairs and resources.
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Technically, Morrison's actions were legal, however, according to Donaghue, they were "inconsistent with the conventions and practices that form an essential part of the system of responsible government prescribed by ... the Constitution."
"Neither the people nor the parliament can hold a minister accountable for the exercise (or, just as importantly, for the non-exercise) of particular statutory powers if they are not aware that the minister has those powers," Donaghue wrote. "Nor can they hold the correct ministers accountable for any other actions, or inactions, of departments."
Morrison argues that he "acted in good faith in a crisis" and there "was a lot going on at the time" due to the pandemic.
"Mr Morrison’s behavior was extraordinary, undermined our parliamentary democracy and he does need to be held to account for it," Albanese said during a news conference in Canberra on Tuesday.
"It is agreed that it needs to be not a political inquiry, but an inquiry with an eminent person with a legal background to consider all of the implications," said Albanese, revealing he has yet to discuss the nature and timeframe of the inquiry with the Cabinet.
Last week, Morrison said he will not resign from federal parliament after his five secret ministry appointments were revealed, defending his decision to keep the ministries concealed as he argued that he never exercised his powers on them.
At a press conference in Sydney, in a reportedly defiant intonation, said he will remain a member of the parliament for the region of Cook, pushing back against calls - even from his own party - that it's time he quit.
