From the Guardian:
Morrison appointed to five additional ministries, Albanese says
Anthony Albanese says Scott Morrison was appointed to five additional ministries, including treasury and home affairs:
“I can say that today, I have been informed by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet that between March 2020 in May 2021, the prime minister Scott Morrison was appointed to five additional portfolios.
In addition to his appointment as the head of prime minister and cabinet.
He was appointed to administer the Department of Health on the 14 March 2020.
The Department of Finance on the 30 March 2020.
The Department of Home Affairs on the 6 May 2021.
The Department of the Treasury on six May 2021.
And the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources on the 15 April 2021.”
[And from a prior update]:
Moving on to questions from reporters, and Albanese has gone on to express his disbelief at the way in which the former government operated:
“I cannot conceive of the mindset that has created this. I cannot conceive of the way that the government has functioned in a way where they said that ‘I’m the prime minister of Australia and I’d also like to be in charge of health, finance, treasury, industry, science, home affairs, resources.’ I cannot conceive of how that occurs.
And I cannot conceive of how a cabinet allows that to happen.”
This seems quite bizarre and verging on autocratic. Having seen no coverage of this news under the tag “Australia”, I’m putting this diary up hoping that someone with a good understanding of Australian politics and law will explain its significance in detail, either here or in another diary (in which case I’ll delete this one). Thanks.