(Prime) Minister for Social Services? Reports Morrison held sixth portfolio

Revelations around the former PM’s portfolio grabs during the pandemic continue to rock politics, as experts question how Morrison could have been secretly sworn in to hold joint power over multiple portfolios.

Scott Morrison may have secretly assumed joint responsibility for the social services portfolio at the height of the COVID pandemic in 2021, according to reports.

According to The Advocate, documents have revealed that the former Prime Minister “took on aspects of the social services portfolio”.

The Advocate reported that Morrison and Governor-General David Hurley signed an administrative arrangements order on June 28 2021, covering the social services portfolio.

ABC News reported this morning that Morrison “did not dispute” taking joint power over the portfolio in June 2021.

It follows revelations that the former Prime Minister secretly appointed himself to five ministries: Health, Finance, Home Affairs, Treasury and Resources.

Former home affairs minister Karen Andrews said she was not told of Morrison’s joint appointment to her portfolio and has called on him to resign from Parliament.

BREAKING – former home affairs minister @karenandrewsmp is calling on @ScottMorrisonMP to resign: “I had absolutely no knowledge and was not told by the PM, PMO nor the department secretary. This undermines the integrity of government,” she tells @australian #auspol

— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) August 16, 2022

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the appointments in a press conference on Tuesday.

Speaking to media, Albanese said the revelations were of a “trashing of our democracy by the former Morrison government”.

“This has been government by deception. Government in secret. The appointment of not a shadow ministry by the leader of the opposition but a shadow government by the prime minister,” Albanese said, adding he was seeking information on whether Morrison used the powers of his joint appointments.

Albanese asked if he has any intel on WHY Morrison did this.

“If you work it out let me know.”

— Rachel Withers (@rachelrwithers) August 16, 2022

Morrison told radio station 2GB that the moves came during “unprecedented… unconventional times” and said they were done to show “the buck stopped with the prime minister”.

How could this happen?

Anne Twomey, professor of constitutional law at the University of Sydney, said in The Conversation that it’s unclear exactly how the appointments took place, but noted that Administrative Arrangements Orders may have played a role.

She slammed the secrecy shrouding the appointments.

“It is inappropriate for such matters to be kept secret – especially if it is kept secret from the Cabinet and from the minister who was formally allocated responsibility for a portfolio by the governor-general.

“Such a lack of transparency is indicative of a lack of respect for the institutions of government and for the general public who have a right to know how power is allocated,” Twomey said.