Australian PM announces inquiry into Morrison taking ministries

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday announced an inquiry after his predecessor Scott Morrison gave extra powers to himself when he was in the top job.

Albanese was speaking in Canberra after reviewing the Solicitor General's advice on the legality of some of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's moves.

He said that while the Solicitor General concluded that Morrison's appointments were legal, the advice was "a very clear, clear criticism and critique of the implications that are there for our democratic system of government."

Albanese said that Morrison's behavior was "extraordinary" and undermined the country's parliamentary democracy.

"He does need to be held to account for it," he said.

Between March 2020 and May 2021, Morrison was appointed minister of health, finance, home affairs, treasury and industry, moves which appeared to have given him equal powers to the ministers already appointed to those positions.

Morrison has said that giving himself extra powers when he was Australia's prime minister was necessary during the coronavirus crisis.

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