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Associated Press
SYDNEY (AP) — Scott Morrison said Wednesday that granting additional powers when he was Prime Minister of Australia was a deceptive and undemocratic move during the coronavirus crisis.
Current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who said it was necessary because of growing criticism that the
Many of Morrison's own colleagues were caught off guard by Morrison's decision to covertly fill his five cabinet offices. Some have called for him to step down from parliament, where he is now an opposition lawmaker, after losing the general election earlier this year to the Albanians.
Morrison, however, told reporters in Sydney that he stands by his actions while apologizing for offending his colleagues.
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In the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, the expectation was that as prime minister, he would be held accountable for "every drop of rain, every strain of virus, everything that happened during that period." . He said.
"I believed that powers to be exercised in unforeseen extremes, de facto emergency powers, were necessary to enable us to act in the national interest."
}He said he would rather be criticized for exceeding standards than for inaction. Morrison said his move may have been misunderstood when asked why he did not inform his cabinet colleagues, let alone the general public, about his appointment.
“I was concerned that these issues could be misunderstood and misunderstood, and undermine confidence in the performance of the ministers at the time. for," Morrison said.
On Tuesday, Albanians revealed Morrison was appointed Minister of Health, Finance, Home Affairs, Finance and Industry between March 2020 and he May 2021. . position. News Corp media revealed some of their plans for the weekend.
"It is absolutely extraordinary that these appointments were kept secret from the Australian people by the Morrison government," Albanese said.
Morrison said that at least he had one exercised additional powers.
Pitt said in his statement that he was unaware that Morrison was co-overseeing his ministerial portfolio and said he supported his decision at the time. rice field.
At the time, Morrison said he was vetoing the project in his capacity as prime minister, and did not mention that he co-oversees the portfolio.
Morrison on Wednesday said that particular case had different circumstances than the pandemic-related portfolio, and he supported his decision, which he believed was in the national interest.
Morrison's appointment was approved by Governor David Hurley. The governor said he was following a process consistent with the constitution by signing an "administrative document on the advice of the prime minister" to give Morrison extra powers. Power.
Karen Andrews, who served as home secretary under Morrison, said Morrison never told her he was also appointed to the portfolio.She said Morrison should resign. Said.
"The Australian people have been disappointed and betrayed," she said. “For the former Prime Minister to behave in such a manner, to have secretly sworn in other portfolios, undermines the Westminster system and is absolutely unacceptable.”