Morrison to face censure motion over secret ministries scandal

Cabinet is moving to ensure no prime minister can ever again be able to secretly take control of government ministries, like Scott Morrison did during the pandemic.

In confirming his cabinet's plan to move a censure against Morrison and following a scathing inquiry into the saga, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his predecessor's actions "were corrosive of trust in government" and should come with consequences.

Cabinet today endorsed all six recommendations of the Bell inquiry, which described Morrison's actions as "troubling", "unnecessary" and "difficult to reconcile".

READ MORE: Scott Morrison's secret portfolios 'corrosive of trust in government', Bell report finds

"These are serious recommendations going forward," Albanese said of the Bell inquiry.

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

"This is about accountability of our democratic system, and whether the parliament was functioning properly."

Today's developments follow the release of the inquiry's report last Friday by former High Court judge Virginia Bell.

The last time an MP was formally censured in federal parliament was in 2018.

The Coalition has already stated it will not support the motion against Morrison, who remains in parliament as the member for Cook.

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The Bell inquiry concluded it was "unnecessary" for Morrison to appoint himself as the secret minister for finance and health.

Morrison defended his actions in a statement on Facebook, saying there were made to "best advance and protect Australia's national interests and the welfare of the Australian people".

He also noted the inquiry found he had not acted illegally.