A motion of no confidence was passed against former Prime Minister Scott Morrison
This is the first time in Australian history that a former Prime Minister has been formally censured by the House of Representatives.
Scott Morrison at a press conference in Sydney on August 17, 2022.
AFP
Australia’s parliament on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion against former prime minister Scott Morrison for secretly appointing himself to several ministerial portfolios during the Covid-19 pandemic, issuing a rare and scathing condemnation.
By a vote of 86 to 50, parliament said the former Conservative leader’s actions had “eroded public confidence in Australian democracy” and made true accountability impossible. This is the first time in Australian history that a former Prime Minister has been formally censured by the House of Representatives.
“He should apologize.”
For two years, Scott Morrison appointed himself Minister for Finance, Home Affairs, Treasury, Minerals, Agriculture and the Environment, in secret and without informing the ministers in place.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose centre-left party ousted Scott Morrison in the May 2022 election, said he “should apologize to the people of Australia for undermining democracy”. The former prime minister was on a hemicycle for most of the debate. , insensible, to the condemnations he was subjected to.
When he spoke it was to vigorously defend his actions, accusing the Labor government of discrimination, “political intimidation” and attempts to “impose punishment”. Scott Morrison expressed some doubts about the confidentiality of his candidacy and said he would have spoken to the public about it if reporters had asked.
Legal acts
“I acknowledge that the non-disclosure of the arrangements has caused unintended offence, and I apologize to those who may have been offended,” he said. But “in a national crisis that saved lives and livelihoods, I make no apologies for taking action, especially careful dismissal.”
A recent inquiry led by a former Australian High Court judge found the practices were “harmful to trust in government” and recommended closing several legal loopholes that allow appointments to remain secret.
Despite the outrage they caused, Scott Morrison’s actions were ultimately deemed legal. The former prime minister has rejected a demand to resign from parliament. For his part, Anthony Albanese indicated that Parliament will try to change the law to ensure that ministerial appointments are made public.
AFP
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