Former prime minister Scott Morrison speaks on the censure motion in the House of Representatives.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
As for the fact he never informed the public about his ministerial appointments,Morrison implied this was the media’s fault.
“Had I been asked about these matters at the time at the numerous press conferences I held,I would have responded truthfully about the arrangements I had put in place,” he said,to howls of incredulity from Labor MPs.
How any reporter could have had the powers of insight to imagine Morrison was secretly collecting additional portfolio responsibilities remained unaddressed.
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The vast majority of Liberal MPs put on a show of solidarity with their former leader:turning up to listen respectfully to Morrison’s speech and walking out as soon as he finished.
Never mind that many of them are on the record castigating him for his multiple ministries;just days earlier it was revealedclose ally Alex Hawke had accused him of becoming addicted to executive authority.
Alluding to the biblical instruction that those without sin should cast the first stone,Morrison sought empathy rather judgment.
“Have you ever had to deal with a crisis where the outlook was completely unknown?” he asked.
“In such circumstances,were you able to get all the decisions perfectly right?”
Aware the numbers were against him,the devout Christian vowed not to become embittered:“I will take the instruction of my faith and turn the other cheek.”
Reaching the crescendo of his speech,Morrison’s words took on the timbre of a Frank Sinatra torch song:“I gave it everything I had. I did it to the best of my ability. And in the best of faith each and every day I had the privilege to serve the Australian people.”
Now the record shows he took the blows,becoming the first former prime minister in Australian history to be censured by parliament. No one could deny he did it his way.