Wednesday 17 August 2022 02:46 PM Governor-General David Hurley on Scott Morrison secret ministries power grab trends now

Wednesday 17 August 2022 02:46 PM Governor-General David Hurley on Scott Morrison secret ministries power grab trends now
Wednesday 17 August 2022 02:46 PM Governor-General David Hurley on Scott Morrison secret ministries power grab trends now

Wednesday 17 August 2022 02:46 PM Governor-General David Hurley on Scott Morrison secret ministries power grab trends now

Pressure is mounting on Scott Morrison to resign from parliament after further revelations in a scandal now engulfing the Liberal-National Coalition, but which he denied was a 'power grab'.

Mr Morrison secretly appointed himself to five additional ministerial portfolios - Health, Finance, Resources, Treasury and Home Affairs - over the last two years of his time as prime minister. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday called on the former prime minister to apologise to the Australian people for 'a trashing of our democratic system'. 

But Governor-General David Hurley, who had to approve Mr Morrison's self-appointments, said he had no reason to believe they wouldn't be publicly announced.

In distancing himself from the growing fury surrounding the secret portfolios, Mr Hurley sought to defend his own judgement, which has been called into question. 

Governor-General David Hurley (right) shakes hands with Scott Morrison. Mr Hurley has sought to distance himself from the scandal of Mr Morrison secretly appointing himself to multiple ministerial portfolios

Governor-General David Hurley (right) shakes hands with Scott Morrison. Mr Hurley has sought to distance himself from the scandal of Mr Morrison secretly appointing himself to multiple ministerial portfolios

Not only have Liberal MPs and right-wing commentators called for Mr Morrison's resignation, but some on the government benches have questioned Mr Hurley's future. 

On Tuesday, former Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews was the first Liberal MP to publicly call for Mr Morrison to leave parliament, though others have said so privately. 

This was followed by Sky News host Andrew Bolt giving an extraordinary, almost 10-minute long monologue on his program lambasting Mr Morrison.

'Former prime minister Scott Morrison has embarrassed, even devastated his party and today the scandal got even more bizarre,' Bolt said.

'He's finished, quit parliament now, just go.'

In a statement, a spokesman for Mr Hurley said Mr Morrison's decision to keep the five ministerial appointments secret was a matter for the previous government.

It comes as Mr Morrison gave a rambling, hour long press conference on Wednesday in which he refused to resign from parliament, saying he took the extra posts 'to exercise decisions in an emergency situation'.

He defended his actions, saying his five secret ministries were needed for an emergency scenario when he would need to act in the national interest.

'It was a very extraordinary time that tested every sinew and fabric of government ... (and) Australian society,' he said.

Scott Morrison, pictured with his wife Jenny, is under pressure to resign from parliament over the 'power grab' scandal

Scott Morrison, pictured with his wife Jenny, is under pressure to resign from parliament over the 'power grab' scandal

Governor-General David Hurley is seeking to distance himself from the growing fury surrounding Scott Morrison's secret portfolios, which Mr Hurley had to sign (pictured)

Governor-General David Hurley is seeking to distance himself from the growing fury surrounding Scott Morrison's secret portfolios, which Mr Hurley had to sign (pictured)

'We took decisions - I did as a prime minister, we did as a cabinet - at federal and state level that some of us would never have dreamed we would ever have to make.'

Mr Morrison said he would be happy to cooperate with any process investigating what he called 'gaps' in the system of appointing ministers. 

Mr Hurley's spokesman said it was not his responsibility to publicly advise of the  changes to the ministry made by Mr Morrison.

'The Governor-General had no

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