Morrison's secret multiple ministers sparks political storm arguing it's a safeguard

　　China News Service, August 16. According to Reuters, former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison secretly held multiple ministerial positions during the new crown epidemic, triggering a political storm.

In response, he responded that it was an "unprecedented moment" and that part-time positions were a safeguard.

Prime Minister Albanese said Morrison had "undermined democracy".

　　According to reports, Albanese accused Morrison of trying to "centralize power" and that "it is completely unusual for the Morrison government to keep these appointments secret from the Australian people."

File photo: Morrison.

　　Morrison was earlier revealed to have secretly appointed himself to a number of ministerial positions, including health minister, finance minister and resources minister, between 2020 and 2021.

　　In a lengthy statement, he said he regretted that his actions had drawn attention, but that he was "in the crisis in good faith".

　　Morrison said he didn't make his appointments public because it was just a safeguard and didn't really use the powers of the health and finance ministers.

　　He used an analogy, like having two keys on a nuclear submarine, "we had to take some special measures to implement safeguards at that time."

　　Mr Morrison said he appointed himself resources minister in 2021, a different story because he used the power to block approval of a gas drilling project off Australia that the local community also opposed.

　　"I believe I made the right decision in the national interest. It's the only thing I've been directly involved in this department or any other department," he said.

FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Albanese.

　　Albanese said it was worrisome that two people with different positions were responsible for resource policy at the same time.

　　"It's not a one-man team, it's a government with checks and balances built in," he told the ABC. "So it's against convention." He added that Parliament was not informed of the minister's responsibilities. There is also a clear breach of the Prime Minister's obligations to Congress.

　　"It is unbelievable that the Morrison government is hiding these appointments from the Australian people," Albanese said.

　　He added: "I can't imagine how a government works ... I can say 'I am the Prime Minister of Australia and I want to be Minister of Health, Finance, Industry, Science'."