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Dreyfus asks Morrison to not release further cabinet deliberations

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC has written to the former prime minister, Scott Morrison, to request that he refrain from making additional disclosures from his time in government, as further apparent disclosures could “undermine national security and the integrity of the cabinet process”.

user iconJerome Doraisamy 07 November 2022 Politics
Dreyfus asks Morrison to not release further cabinet deliberations
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In a letter, dated earlier today (7 November 2022), A-G Dreyfus wrote to Mr Morrison — now a backbencher, representing the Sydney electorate of Cook — to express his concern over “apparent extensive disclosures” in the recently published book by two News Corp journalists, Simon Benson and Geoff Chambers.

Mr Dreyfus wrote that he understands that the authors of the book — Plagued: Australia’s two years of hell — the inside story — were “informed by interviews conducted contemporaneously” between 2020 to 2022 and included deliberations of the national security committee of cabinet.

“As you are aware, the publication is granular in its description of cabinet and cabinet committee deliberations,” the A-G wrote.

Mr Dreyfus identified numerous disclosures apparently made that, he wrote, were “made in contravention of the expectation of discretion” regarding sensitive cabinet discussions.

These included disclosures of a briefing on “planning on Chinese economic coercion”, the national security implications of COVID-19, and references to a “secret intelligence briefing”. This latter disclosure, the A-G noted, “would appear to be contrary” to the confidentiality of information from the intelligence and security agencies.

Disclosure of cabinet discussions and deliberations, Mr Dreyfus concluded, “undermine cabinet confidentiality and solidarity”.

“I trust there will be no further disclosures from your period in government that undermine national security and the integrity of the cabinet process,” he wrote.

In August, the Solicitor-General’s advice on the appointment of former prime minister Scott Morrison to the industry ministry was released, finding that appointment was not in line with the conventions and practices of responsible government and offering solutions to prevent such a reoccurrence.

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.

You can email Jerome at: jerome.doraisamy@momentummedia.com.au 

Comments (2)
  • Avatar
    How strange - the very same government wanting to dissect Cabinet discussions of the 'Robodebt' scheme doesn't want the media to dissect Cabinet discussions of other stuff...
    Good thing they have double standards or they wouldn't have any.
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  • Avatar
    Morrison ran perhaps the least transparent Federal Government since WW2. One can only speculate that he made these confidential in cabinet disclosures of information because he was both ignorant of his obligations of confidentiality and ignorant of the ramifications that could potentially flow from the breaching confidentiality and his disclosures. However, with Morrison, I cannot help but also sense that he has a profound disrespect for norms of behaviour such as honesty and integrity; coupled with a personal arrogance and self-admiration. These qualities alone can lead some people to breach norms of acceptable behaviour. Good on the Attorney General.
    0
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