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Virginia Bell to lead inquiry into Morrison’s secret ministries
Former justice of the High Court of Australia, the Honourable Virginia Bell AC, is set to spearhead the Albanese government’s inquiry into the appointment of the former prime minister to multiple ministerial portfolios without the public’s knowledge.
Jerome Doraisamy
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced further details of the inquiry into the appointment of his predecessor Scott Morrison to the Treasury, Home Affairs, Finance, Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and Health ministries. The federal government is holding the inquiry, the Attorney-General’s Department said in a statement following the press conference, to restore and strengthen public trust in our Australian democracy.
“We need to have transparency,” declared PM Albanese.
“As was made very clear by the Solicitor-General, it is impossible for the Parliament to hold ministers to account if it does not know which ministers are responsible for which department.”
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus added: “This inquiry is one which is required, which absolutely was made necessary by the Solicitor-General’s advice.”
The A-G then announced that Virginia Bell — who served as a justice of the High Court from 2009 to 2021 — would lead the inquiry.
“The appointment of a former High Court judge is one that can bring confidence from the Australian public,” the PM said.
“Ms Bell is eminently qualified to lead the inquiry, having served on the High Court of Australia for 12 years, and before that, an extensive legal career including as judge of the NSW Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of NSW,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“The government expects those with knowledge of these events to willingly assist and provide information to the inquiry.”
It will be “extraordinary”, Mr Albanese mused, if anyone — including Morrison government ministers and staffers — chose not to co-operate with a former High Court judge in the course of investigations.
If co-operation is not forthcoming, the PM said, “other measures could be considered”.
The terms of reference for the inquiry include examination of the facts and circumstances surrounding Mr Morrison’s additional appointments, the implications arising from those appointments, and recommendations for procedural or legislative changes that would provide greater transparency and accountability.
The administration of the inquiry will fall under the A-G’s Department.
The inquiry will be a “quick and appropriate” one, Mr Albanese said, and will report by 25 November 2022.
MORE TO COME.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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