Australian Government in the House of Representatives to move a censure motion today on the person of former prime minister & Liberal MP for Cook Scott John Morrison

 

This morning. Wednesday 30 November 2022, Trump-lite is to get some of the comeuppance he deserves.....

Go to House of Representatives live at:

https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen 

30/11/2022 9:00AM - 8:00PM AEDT

The censure motion will be put to the Parliament by Leader of the House, Tony Burke, MP for Watson, Minister for Employment and workplace Relations, Minister for the Arts.

Note:

A motion in the form of a censure of a Member of Parliament, not being a member of the Executive Government, is not consistent with the parliamentary convention that the traditional purpose of a vote of censure is to question or bring to account a Minister’s responsibility to the House. 

However, it is acknowledged that ultimately the House may hold any Member accountable for his or her actions. 

Under the rules of procedure for the House of Representatives as at 2 August 2022, a notice of motion which expresses censure of or no confidence in the Government, or a censure of any Member, must be reported to the House by the Clerk at the first convenient opportunity. 

Motions of censure have been successfully moved against two private Members of Parliament in the past.

BACKGROUND

ABC News, 28 November 2022:

The federal government will move a censure motion against former prime minister Scott Morrison over his decision to secretly appoint himself to a number of extra ministries.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced today that cabinet had agreed to move the motion this week, the final sitting week for the year.

As Labor has a majority in the House of Representatives, the motion will pass.

Mr Morrison secretly appointed himself to administer several ministries throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including to the treasury and home affairs portfolios.

Late last week, a report into his actions found they were "corrosive" to trust in government.

Mr Albanese said cabinet had agreed to implement all six recommendations from the report.

"We will introduce legislation later this week to make sure that this can never, ever happen again," he said.

"And this week, as well, the house will be moving a censure motion [against] the member for Cook as a result of the findings of Virginia Bell and the inquiry.

"This is about accountability of our democratic system, and whether the parliament was functioning properly, and about the relationship between the prime minister and the people of Australia, who expect [elected officials] to be held to account through our parliamentary processes."

One question remains: What was Morrison thinking?

Bell's report shreds any last remnants of credibility the former prime minister might have in regards to his disdain for proper process and in the way he treated his colleagues and the public.

Censure motions allow MPs to express their disapproval of their colleagues but do not have any direct legal consequences.

They are uncommon and it is very rare for a former prime minister to face one…..