Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been censured over his self-appointment to five portfolios during the height of the global pandemic, which he kept secret from the public and many of his own cabinet colleagues.
The censure passed with the support of the government, crossbenchers and Liberal MP Bridget Archer. Former home affairs minister Karen Andrews, who previously called for Mr Morrison to quit parliament over the scandal, abstained from voting.
It was opposed by the Liberals and Nationals, who said Mr Morrison had already been rebuked for the power grab and that the censure was a stunt.
The censure motion noted Mr Morrison appointed himself to administer five additional portfolios, that he did not notify cabinet, relevant departments, the House of Representatives nor the public, that (his actions) "fundamentally undermined" the principles of responsible government and that the former PM's move was "corrosive of trust in government".
The Member for Cook was censured for "failing to disclose his appointments to the House of Representatives, the Australian people and the cabinet, which undermined responsible government and eroded public trust in Australia's democracy".
A censure is the most-serious statement of disapproval a parliament can make, although it is symbolic and triggers no consequence for Mr Morrison as a backbencher.
Moving the motion, house leader Tony Burke said Mr Morrison fell short of the standards expected of a member of parliament.
"Today is not how any of us wanted to make history," Mr Burke said, "but a censure, while rare, has its place."
"The concept that the parliament knows who has which job is essential to responsible government. You cannot have responsible government if you do not know what people are responsible for, and for two years we did not know. For two years, the ministers themselves did not know."
Morrison refuses to 'submit to political intimidation'
Defending himself against the censure motion, Mr Morrison said he was proud of his achievements and his government.
"My government stood up and faced the abyss of uncertainty that our country looked into," Mr Morrison said.
"I have no intention now of submitting to the political intimidation of this government, using its numbers in this place to impose its retribution on a political opponent."
Mr Morrison maintained he assumed the secret powers as a "dormant" emergency measure in response to COVID-19, although that reasoning was challenged by former High Court justice Virginia Bell in her inquiry into the matter.
The former prime minister said he only used the powers in one instance, to overrule a minister to block a petroleum exploration licence, a decision unrelated to COVID-19.
"I was present, each and every day at that despatch box to answer any and all questions," Mr Morrison said.
He admitted that, "in hindsight", the powers were not necessary, and that he gave "insufficient consideration" to appointing himself to the roles, and deciding not to disclose it.
Mr Morrison chastised the government for moving a censure motion, saying "grace in victory is a virtue", but that he would take instruction from his faith and turn the other cheek.
After he spoke, several Liberal and National MPs approached Mr Morrison to hug him and shake his hand.
'He's not sorry': House MPs speak on censure
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this morning he was uncertain whether he would speak, until Mr Morrison's comments compelled him to.
"He just doesn't get it, the former prime minister," Mr Albanese said.
"He came up with a different explanation today: if only he was asked! To blame the media and everyone else.
"A semblance of contrition, we got none of that. We got hubris, we got arrogance, we got denial."
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said Mr Morrison evidently was still unapologetic.
"He's not sorry, he never will be," Mr Dreyfus said.
"If the members of this house have any respect at all for this parliament, then you must support this censure."
While the opposition voted against the motion, Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to support it.
"I am a Liberal. I believe in Liberal values. And our statement of values says this: We believe in the rule of law. Under it, there is freedom for the nation and for all men and women. Democracy depends upon self-discipline. Obedience to the law and the honest administration of the law," Ms Archer said.
"And it is for this reason that I'm to support this motion.
"I do not accept any of the explanations put forward by the former prime minister for the actions and I'm deeply disappointed for the lack of apology or more importantly, the lack of understanding of the impact of the decisions."
Greens leader Adam Bandt said Mr Morrison's defence against the censure was a "logical and moral abyss".
"You can't hold a minister to account if you don't know who the minister is," Mr Bandt said.
"The former prime minister knew at the time this was a problem, and did not tell people.
"This was a betrayal of trust."
Manager of opposition business in the house Paul Fletcher said the censure was not appropriate and made no practical difference.
"What the government is doing here is at odds with the traditions and practices of this house, it is nothing more than a political exercise designed to damage the standing of the former prime minister," Mr Fletcher said.
Mr Fletcher said commentary about Mr Morrison's self-appointments had been "exaggerated".
Mr Morrison is the first former prime minister to be censured by the House of Representatives.
In 1975, newly-appointed PM Malcolm Fraser had a motion of no confidence successfully moved against him following his role in the dismissal of his predecessor Gough Whitlam.
