(Sydney) Former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison faces a no-confidence motion to be introduced in parliament this week for secretly appointing himself to multiple cabinet posts during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been announced. his successor Anthony Albanese on Monday.
Scott Morrison had self-nominated as finance, interior, treasury, minerals, agriculture and environment ministers, without saying so publicly and without informing the ministers in place. .
Parliament will try to revise the law to ensure that ministerial appointments are made public, Albanese said.
According to him, his conservative predecessor, who lost the elections in May, must be held politically responsible.
“We will introduce a bill this week to ensure this never happens again,” Mr Albanese announced, increasing pressure on Mr Morrison to step down as an MP.
The scandal has shed light on the opaque nature of decision-making in the Australian government and raised questions about the need for stronger democratic safeguards.
A recent inquiry, led by a former judge of the High Court of Australia, Australia’s highest court, found the acts had been “harmful to trust in government” and recommended the removal of several legal loopholes allowing appointments to remain secret.
Despite the outrage they may have caused, Mr. Morrison’s actions were ultimately deemed legal.
The former prime minister defended his actions, calling them “cautious” and necessary in times of a pandemic.