THE SQUIZ

Former PM Scott Morrison says the “weight of responsibility that was on my shoulders” led him to appoint himself to 5 senior ministries between March 2020 and May 2021. “I understand the offence that some of my colleagues particularly have felt about this. I understand that and I have apologised to them,” he said during a marathon press conference in Sydney yesterday, but the pressure of leading the pandemic response was something “only I could really understand”. And in response to the waves of robust questions from the journalists in attendance, he said “You are standing on the shore after the fact, I was steering the ship in the middle of the tempest.”

DID HE SAY WHY HE DID IT?

He did… Morrison said it was down to the practical considerations of the pandemic to make sure key portfolios were covered if COVID took the minister offline. That’s why he says the appointments were “prudent, responsible action” at a time when the media and his political opponents were “constantly telling me that I was responsible for everything”. As for why Morrison didn’t tell his colleagues or the public about his multiple ministries, he said he thought it would be “misinterpreted and misunderstood”. That could have caused “unnecessary angst in the middle of a pandemic and could have impacted on the day-to-day functioning of the government.” And he emphasised that he didn’t exercise any power over those departments – except to strike out a oil/gas exploration licence off the NSW coast. So at the end of the day: “I did what I thought was necessary in the national interest,” Morrison said.” And no, he’s got no plans to leave the parliament, as some have recommended. 

AND HOW’S THAT GONE DOWN? 

Well, you’re going to have to be scraped off the floor when we tell you that PM Anthony Albanese didn’t give Morrison’s appearance a glowing review… “Scott Morrison was evasive, he was defensive, he was passive-aggressive, and he was self-serving. So at least he was true to himself today.” Sure, he’s apologised to his colleagues, but “how about an apology to the Australian people?” Albanese asked. As for Coalition leader Peter Dutton, he put some distance between himself and his predecessor yesterday, and said he will work with Albanese to ensure “the checks and balances are put in place to make sure that it can’t happen again.” And last night, Governor-General David Hurley’s office issued a statement rejecting suggestions it was on him to ensure Morrison’s moves were announced. Next up: Albanese will receive advice on Morrison’s moves from the Solicitor-General on Monday. Onwards and upwards…