Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: BLOOMBERG.
After a review of the matter by the prime minister’s department, Albanese told reporters Morrison had taken on the health and finance portfolios in March 2020, home affairs and treasury in May 2021, and resources in April 2021. Former home affairs minister in Morrison’s government, Karen Andrews, said she had no knowledge that Morrison also held the role, and called for Morrison to resign from parliament.
Liberal opposition leader Peter Dutton said legal advice from the solicitor-general was needed before any decisions on next steps were made. “I used such powers on one occasion only. I did not seek to interfere with ministers in the conduct of their portfolio,” he said in the statement. He added that “in hindsight these arrangements were unnecessary”.
The resources minister role he took on in 2021 was different, he said, because he had used the power to stop approval for a gas exploration project off the coast of Australia which was opposed by local communities. The decision is being challenged in court.