Re: General Discussions
Reply #1168 –
As a middling voter I don't have a lot of issue with the PM taking on repsonsibility for extra duties.
In fact with the proper checks and balances it makes sense to have the boss with the back-up power should a minister be indisposed.
When Gough Whitlam came to power he and Lance Barnard divided up all the portfolios between them (Whitlam 13, Barnard 14) and they made quite a few decisions in the weeks before the new full ministry was sworn in.
Whitlam and Labor had a clear agenda and as leader of the party I doubt there was much issue amongst his colleagues with the process.
There was a bit of public outrage at the time, but they hit the ground running.
The big problem for Morrison is in terms of transparency and secrecy.
Let folks know...no problem.
Do it without that transparency...political career over.
It's time to go.
Yes Lods, there's nothing wrong with Ministers or Prime Ministers having more than one portfolio. It's the secrecy around Morrison's multiple appointments that's the problem. Of course, none of this is codified and Morrison has broken conventions rather than laws or the Constitution. In fact, our Constitution doesn't provide for a Prime Minister and the role is based on conventions established by the UK Parliament aka the Westminster system.
Similarly, deceiving his Cabinet colleagues and heads of departments is not unlawful but is at odds with the Westminster system.