Former prime minister Scott Morrison’s secret appointment of himself to five ministerial portfolios in the name of (but not limited to) the pandemic has not gone unnoticed beyond these shores. Global news publications have tapped into the politics of power centralisation, overreach and exploitation, heralding Morrison’s behaviour as a cautionary tale.
US media
The editorial board for The Financial Times added Morrison’s name to a list of global “greats”, stating that although “tame in comparison”, lessons “need to be learnt” from his actions.
The pandemic provided the perfect fig leaf for strongmen in more authoritarian systems to amass power. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán wasted no time during the pandemic to gain the right to rule by decree, with no time limit. China’s Xi Jinping has relentlessly tightened his grip after overseeing some of the strictest and widespread controls on movement the world has ever seen. Even established democracies have not been immune to power grabs over the past two years, most flagrantly that of Donald Trump. The Morrison affair may seem tame in comparison, but it is a reminder of the need for vigilance in shoring up the processes and institutions of democracies.
UK media
From our constitutional godfathers in the UK, Australian-based Terry Barnes writing for The Spectator said that the saga was “fair enough, on the face of it” but that was as deep as their empathy extended.
Morrison acted with a secrecy that disgraced US president Richard Nixon would have approved of, and then seemingly expected to be praised for it afterwards. It has shown his contempt for not only open government, but for the concept of Westminster-style ministerial responsibility.
More European perspectives
A podcast from global outlet The Monocle provided this scathing analysis: “It has transpired that during the period Morrison was airily declaring that many things were not his job, a much greater number of things were his job than was generally appreciated. For reasons surpassing the understanding of, at last count, the entire Australian and political and media class and the Australian population generally, while serving as prime minister Morrison had the governor-general swear him into five additional cabinet portfolios.”
As the host quipped: “In fairness, who among us has not concurrently held the second- and third-most powerful jobs in their country and forgotten all about it?”
NZ media
Over in Australia 2.0 (aka New Zealand) Brigitte Morten writing for Stuff said that the constitutional similarities of the two nations mean New Zealand is not immune from such a scenario.
Australia and New Zealand share similar systems of government based in the Westminster tradition of a balance of power. So while Morrison’s behaviour may seem bizarre, it raises the question about whether it could or would happen here.
Morten acknowledged the Kiwi system has safeguards in place to “discourage secrecy”, but reiterated that “really this all relies on a respect from our government for the rule of law”.
“It would be easy to dismiss the question by stating that is just not how we do things here. But based on the outrage across the Tasman, it clearly was not the way they do things either,” she said.
Has Morrison tarnished Australia on the world stage, or just himself? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
