SYDNEY: Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought legal advice following reports that his predecessor Scott Morrison was secretly appointed to key ministerial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, duplicating some portfolios.
Ministers are traditionally sworn in at a ceremony by the governor-general, but that did not happen in the case of the additional roles, and Albanese said it was unprecedented that key cabinet members were not aware of the appointments.
"This was a centralisation of power by the former Prime Minister," Albanese, who has sought advice from the solicitor-general, Australia's second law officer, told reporters on Monday.
"This isn't some, you know, local footy club," he added. "This is a government of Australia, where the people of Australia were kept in the dark as to what the ministerial arrangements were."
Morrison, who was prime minister from 2018 to 2022, did not respond to a request for comment.
In an emailed statement, the governor-general's office told Reuters the appointments were valid under the constitution, did not require a swearing-in ceremony, and added that publicising them was a matter for the government of the day.
"It is not uncommon for ministers to be appointed to administer departments other than their portfolio responsibility," the spokesperson for the governor-general's secretary said.
The governor-general followed normal process and acted on the government's advice in appointing Morrison to administer portfolios besides his own department and the cabinet, the spokesperson added.
The Australian newspaper said Morrison was appointed health minister in 2020, alongside Health Minister Greg Hunt, to avoid concentrating power in one person when biosecurity emergency powers were adopted to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
He was later also appointed finance minister and resources minister. Former resources minister Keith Pitt told broadcaster ABC the situation was "unusual" and he was "concerned" when he was told Morrison shared his responsibilities in 2021.
Morrison later blocked an offshore gas project.
David Littleproud, the leader of the National party, the coalition partner of Morrison's Liberals, told ABC the news was "disappointing", and added that the cabinet should be trusted.
It was not immediately clear what the implications were for the Liberal party's coalition with the National party.
"These revelations do raise into question our Westminster system of government," said Bridget McKenzie, the National leader in the upper house.
"Who is the senior minister, what if they disagreed?" she asked the ABC.
Reuters
Mon Aug 15 2022
Anthony Albanese has sought legal advice following reports that his predecessor Scott Morrison was secretly appointed to key ministerial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, duplicating some portfolios. - REUTERS/Filepic
Piala Dunia ISTAF: Skuad doubles teruskan kemaraan ke separuh akhir
Skuad doubles negara berjaya melangkah ke separuh akhir Piala Dunia ISTAF selepas mengatasi Korea 2-1 dalam perlawanan di Stadium Titiwangsa.
Warga emas hidap masalah pendengaran boleh jejas rutin harian - Pakar
Kesan hilang sensitiviti deria pendengaran bagi seorang dewasa dan warga emas memberi kesan yang berbeza.
Melaka tunggu garis panduan untuk pelaksanaan kenaikan gaji penjawat awam negeri
Kerajaan negeri Melaka sedang menunggu garis panduan berkaitan pelaksanaan kenaikan gaji penjawat awam daripada kerajaan Persekutuan.
[TERKINI] Keadaan Koperal Hasif stabil, masih dirawat di HSI
Anggota polis, Koperal Mohd Hasif Roslan yang cedera ditembak dalam serangan di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram masih menerima rawatan di Hospital Sultan Ismail, di Johor Bahru.
BMW Malaysia catat pertumbuhan jualan 8 peratus pada suku pertama, kenaikan 26 peratus jualan EV
BMW Group Malaysia menjual sebanyak 4,300 kenderaan pada suku pertama tahun ini, mewakili peningkatan lapan peratus berbanding tempoh yang sama pada 2023.
Pegawai Imigresen mengaku tidak bersalah terima rasuah
Seorang pegawai Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia mengaku tidak bersalah atas 10 pertuduhan menerima rasuah berjumlah RM7,600.
Saksi dakwa Ebit Lew hantar mesej lucah menjelang malam
Saksi kesembilan mendakwa mesej yang diterima daripada pendakwah terkenal, Ebit Lew berunsur lucah dan mengaibkan kehormatannya sebagai wanita.
Tun Musa lancar buku Ku Li: Memoir 205, angkat perjalanan politik Tengku Razaleigh
Tun Musa Hitam melancarkan buku KU LI: Memoir 205 yang mengangkat kisah perjalanan politik lagenda politik, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah pada Selasa.
Iran mulakan siasatan nahas helikopter Presiden Raisi
Iran memulakan siasatan berhubung nahas helikopter yang mengorbankan Presiden Ebrahim Raisi dan rombongannya dalam kejadian di barat laut negara itu.
AWANI Ringkas: Empat individu mengaku bersalah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Bersuhabat dalam genosid: PM Australia Albanese dirujuk ke ICC
Birchgrove Legal, yang memfailkan kes itu berkata Albanese adalah pemimpin pertama negara Barat yang dirujuk kepada ICC di bawah Perkara 15 Statut Rom.
PM Singapura pertahan konsert Taylor Swift, anggap perjanjian 'sangat berjaya'
Perdana Menteri Singapura, Lee Hsien Loong berkata, perjanjian itu ternyata berjaya, dan membawa manfaat ekonomi kepada negaranya,dan menarik kedatangan pelancong dari seluruh rantau Asean.
Kawalan keselamatan Sidang Kemuncak Khas ASEAN-Australia diperketat
Sidang khas itu akan dihoskan PM Australia Anthony Albanese ketika negara itu meraikan ulang tahun ke-50 sebagai rakan luar pertama ASEAN.
PM Australia umum pertunangan dengan Jodie Haydon
Anthony Albanese yang berusia 60 tahun melamar kekasihnya, Jodie Haydon, 45, pada Hari Kekasih di kediaman rasmi Perdana Menteri.
Australia siasat dokumen perang Iraq yang hilang
Perdana Menteri Australia memulakan siasatan terhadap dokumen yang hilang berkaitan dengan keputusan kerajaan terdahulu untuk menyertai Perang Iraq.
Malaysia, Australia bincang kerjasama pelbagai sektor bawah kerangka CSP - PM
Perdana Menteri berkata perkara tersebut, dibincangkan dalam pertemuan dua hala pada Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN ke-43 dan sidang-sidang kemuncak berkaitan, di Jakarta, Indonesia hari ini.
Australia bakal haramkan TikTok pada telefon rasmi kerajaan
Australia akan umum langkah mengharamkan aplikasik TikTok daripada telefon kerajaan kerana kebimbangan keselamatan.
Dua anggota polis maut di Queensland
Dua pegawai polis ditembak ketika mereka menghampiri lokasi itu, manakala seorang orang awam turut terkena tembakan dan maut.
Australia tamatkan keperluan isolasi wajib COVID-19 pada 14 Okt
Australia pada Jumaat mengumumkan negara itu akan menamatkan keperluan isolasi mandatori COVID-19 pada 14 Oktober.
Parlimen Australia beri penghormatan terakhir kepada Ratu Elizabeth II
Albanese turut menzahirkan ucapan takziah kepada kerabat diraja, kerajaan dan rakyat United Kingdom atas kemangkatan Ratu Elizabeth II.