Lawyers Weekly Australia..
Former justice of the High Court of Australia, The Hon. Virginia Bell AC, is set to spearhead the Albanese Government’s inquiry into the appointment of the former prime minister’s appointment to multiple ministerial portfolios without the public’s knowledge.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced further details of the inquiry into the appointment of his predecessor, Scott Morrison, into the appointment of the former PM to the Treasury, Home Affairs, Finance, Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and Health ministries. The federal government is holding the inquiry, the Attorney-General’s Department said in a statement following the press conference, to restore and strengthen public trust in our Australian democracy.
“We need to have transparency,” declared PM Albanese.
“As was made very clear by the Solicitor-General, it is impossible for the parliament to hold ministers to account if it does not know which ministers are responsible for which department.”
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus added: “This inquiry is one which is required, which absolutely was made necessary by the Solicitor-General’s advice.”
The A-G then announced that Ms Virginia Bell – who served as a justice of the High Court from 2009 to 2021 – will lead the inquiry.
