Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison actually appointed himself to five portfolios, including Home Affairs and Treasury, not just three as initially thought.

This saga has quickly gathered momentum since breaking, and today he spoke to media for about an hour, taking questions on a spiralling story which has gone global.

Here's everything you need to know about Morrison and his secret ministerial portfolios.

READ MORE: Scott Morrison defends secret portfolios as a 'break glass in emergency' situation

What's the story here?

While PM, Morrison was sworn in as minister of five portfolios, with at least three ministers having no knowledge it had happened.

Five portfolios? I thought there were three?

Well, when the story first broke, there were three: Department of Health, Department of Finance and Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

But it's five?

Correct. Yesterday Anthony Albanese confirmed Morrison was also sworn in to take control of Home Affairs and the Treasury.

When did this all happen?

Morrison was secretly sworn into five appointments on four days, between March 2020 – May 2021.

• 14 March 2020: Department of Health
• 30 March 2020: Department of Finance
• 15 April 2021: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
• 6 May 2021: Department of Home Affairs
• 6 May 2021: Department of Treasury

READ MORE: The glaring questions Morrison still needs to answer about secret ministries

Where did the story come from?

The secret swearing-in revelations are contained in Plagued, a new book which covers Morrison's prime ministership.

Was any of this illegal?

Early indications are it was not illegal, but Albanese is seeking legal advice.

Under Australian law, it appears the governor-general can swear a prime minister into a portfolio, without anybody else knowing.

So even the ministers didn't know?

We don't know the full answer to this yet.

What we do know is that, when Morrison took control of the finance portfolio, then-Minister Mathias Cormann did not know.

Karen Andrews, who was then Home Affairs Minister, also said she had no idea Morrison had joint control. She has urged Morrison to resign.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg did not know.

Health Minister Greg Hunt was apparently aware.

Albanese was pressed by reporters over who may have known what and when, but he said investigations are in the early stages.

READ MORE: Scott Morrison defiant after taking on secret portfolios

Who were the ministers in charge at the time?

Andrews was Home Affairs Minister, Hunt the Health Minister, Frydenberg served as Treasurer and Keith Pitt the Minister for Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

Cormann served as Minister for Finance for eight months with Morrison also sworn into the role. But after Cormann left Parliament, Simon Birmingham took over the role.

Why did Morrison do this?

Morrison said he took on the extra responsibilities because of the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic.

He rejected suggestions his invocation of emergency powers was a dictatorial move.

"I did what I thought was necessary in the national interests to ensure the government continued to perform well," he said.

Will he resign?

No. Morrison said he refuses to resign as the member for Cook.

He said he'd apologised for offence caused to the ministers, but did not concede he had done anything wrong.

What about the ethics of it?

Becoming Minister of Health at the start of the pandemic seemed reasonable, according to Nine's political editor Chris Uhlmann.

Morrison's actions arose from "bad law" which, under the Bio-Security Act, would have given Health Minister Hunt power over the country, Uhlmann said.

However, Uhlmann said Morrison should have been transparent about this, at the time.

Morrison dismissed suggestions he didn't have the courage to tell his frontbench colleagues he had secretly taken their jobs.

READ MORE: Why Aussies would survive longest in war

Did Morrison use ministerial powers?

Just once, Morrison said. However, an Albanese investigation is also underway.

"At no time except in the one instance that I have made reference to in relation to resources and Department of Industry did I interfere in any of the decisions or exercise those powers in those departments," Morrison said.

What was the decision?

That's unclear for now.

There are reports it was linked to a gas project off the coast of NSW which Morrison was against, because it potentially threatened Liberal seats during the ill-fated 2022 federal election.

"I made a decision in industry for national interests," is all Morrison is saying for now.

What now?

Watch this space, but Albanese already flagged May 21, 2021 as a key date.

Why May 21?

Morrison took control of Home Affairs on May 6, just weeks before the federal election.

On May 21, the day of the election (which Morrison lost), Australians were notified by Home Affairs that two asylum seeker vessels had been intercepted en route to Australia.

Albanese and Labor were furious about this, accusing the Liberals of "scaremongering".

Today Albanese questioned who was running Home Affairs "during that shocking breach of government policy and the abuse of the information that was put out there with text messages to millions of Australians in order to try to pervert the result of the election."