Albanese to investigate claims of Morrison's secret portfolios

Anthony Albanese says he is investigating how Scott Morrison was able to take on extra portfolios in secret during his time as prime minister.

It comes as Australia's Governor-General David Hurley confirmed he had appointed Morrison to "administer portfolios other than the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet".

Albanese said he had sought advice from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet following a News Corp report that Morrison was sworn in as the second resources minister in December last year without the knowledge of some of his cabinet.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce told News Corp that Morrison used his ministerial powers to stop controversial gas projects slated for the NSW coast, which teal independent candidates – an increasing election threat – opposed.

The report follows a new book, Plagued, by Simon Benson and Geoff Chambers, which claims Morrison also swore himself into the health and finance portfolios.

Scott Morrison ordered the announcement of a people-smuggling vessel interception mid-operation.

"This is extraordinary and unprecedented," Albanese said.

"Australians knew during the election campaign that I was running a shadow ministry.

"What they didn't know was that Scott Morrison was running a shadow government, a shadow government that was operating in the shadows."

Albanese said he had spoken with the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, who would be seeking advice from the Solicitor General, among others, on the legality of Morrison's extra portfolios.

"I'll be getting a full briefing this afternoon," Albanese said.

Barnaby Joyce has served as the 17th deputy prime minister of Australia under Malcolm Turnbull from 2016 to 2018 and Scott Morrison from 2021 to 2022.

"We all know that Scott Morrison had trouble doing the job that he had. Perhaps it was because he was doing so many different jobs that we didn't know that he had."

Albanese said Australians deserved an explanation as to what had occurred.

"This isn't some local footy club. This is a Government of Australia, where the people of Australia were kept in the dark as to what the ministerial arrangements were.

"It's completely unacceptable."

Anthony Albanese addresses the media about claims Scott Morrison held secret additional portfolios during his time as prime minister.

In a statement released today, Hurley said Morrison's appointments were consistent with the constitution.

"It is not uncommon for ministers to be appointed to administer departments other than their portfolio responsibility," Hurley said.

"These appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony – the governor-general signs an administrative instrument on the advice of the prime minister.

"Questions around appointments of this nature are a matter for the government of the day and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

"Similarly, the decision whether to publicise appointments to administer additional portfolios is a matter for the government of the day."

Earlier this morning, David Littleproud, who replaced Joyce as the Nationals leader ABC's RN Breakfast program he did not know about Morrison's extra ministerial roles.

"That's pretty ordinary, as far as I'm concerned. If you have a cabinet government, you trust your cabinet," Littleproud said.

"You create that environment in the cabinet room to have those discussions.

"If you don't think a minister's suitable to do that, that's a discussion with the minister [and you] probably ask him or her to remove themselves."