All That Sound and Fury for Nothing

A big, fat, nothinburger, with a heapin’ helpin’ of hyperbole: that’s the obvious reality of the Albanese government’s threadbare witch-hunt of Scott Morrison.

The only thing that differentiates it from the Democrats’ “Russian Collusion” conspiracy is that at least it isn’t completely made up. The former PM did indeed have himself secretly sworn in as a co-minister of several portfolios during the pandemic, but… so what?

Did he ever actually exercise the powers? Just once, in one portfolio. Was it illegal? No. So, what’s the big deal?

The only big deal, it seems, is that Anthony Albanese and his media cheerleaders desperately want a distraction.

Scott Morrison didn’t break the law with his ministerial power grab but his secrecy “fundamentally undermined” the principles of a responsible government, the solicitor-general has found.

As the saying goes, never hold an inquiry unless you know the outcome. If this was all the outcome that Albanese could rustle up, that’s a pretty limp lettuce leaf he’s waving around, there.

Anthony Albanese last week asked Dr Donaghue to prepare the advice after the bombshell revelations were reported in the media.

Dr Donaghue specifically examined Mr Morrison’s appointment to the industry, science, energy and resources portfolio. He said he considered that his appointment was valid.

But Mr Morrison’s failure to alert the relevant ministers, the parliament or the public was inconsistent “with the principle of responsible government that is inherent in Ch II of the Constitution”.

Except that then Donaghue turns right around and contradicts himself.

Mr Donahue said there was no “constitutional or legislative requirement” for notification of Mr Morrison’s appointment to be made in order for it to become valid.

More importantly, despite Labor and the media trying to gin up the affair as an excuse to whip up their flaccid Republican push, the Governor-General emerges spotless.

The advice from the Solicitor-General clears Governor-General David Hurley.

“In circumstances where Mr Morrison clearly advised the Governor-General to appoint him to administer DISER, and given that the appointment of a minister to administer multiple departments is not unlawful … it would have been a clear breach of the applicable conventions for the Governor-General to decline to accept and act upon the Prime Minister’s advice,” the advice said.

The Australian

The pearl-clutching by the government and the media is all the more hypocritical given that, at the same time, Labor premiers were trampling parliamentary principles and basic human rights into a mire of capsicum spray and house arrest. None of them has ever been held to account.

Nor will they, if Albanese has his way. At his press conference announcing the inquiry results, Albanese was challenged on whether or not he would establish a Royal Commission into the Covid response, as advised by a Senate committee. The PM refused to answer.

After all, he wouldn’t want a Royal Commission into his best barbecue mate, Dan Andrews, now would he?