Former prime minister Scott Morrison during a censure motion moved against him (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
Former prime minister Scott Morrison during a censure motion moved against him (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)

Scott Morrison has become the first former Australian prime minister to be censured by Parliament.

Labor MPs, several crossbenchers, and one Coalition MP who crossed the floor voted at midday to condemn the Cook MP for secretly appointing himself to several ministries in 2020 and 2021 and “[eroding] public trust in Australia’s democracy”.

Liberal MP Bridget Archer walked across the House of Representatives chamber from the Coalition side to a chair behind the government’s side where she sat next to independents and Greens MPs when a division was called. 

None of her Coalition colleagues turned to acknowledge her when she resumed her seat among them.

The censure motion was agreed to with 86 MPs voting yes and 50 voting no. 

Morrison, who earlier rose to defend his actions, looked relaxed when the vote was announced, made an occasional glance towards the press gallery, and even chuckled at something on his phone shortly afterwards.

He was sitting at his usual seat on the backbench next to ally Alex Hawke, who was recently revealed to have spoken out against Morrison in interviews for a new book by journalist Niki Savva.

Morrison conceded in his speech moments earlier that he went too far when he secretly took on the treasury and home affairs portfolios while prime minister, but was largely defiant and accused the government of “intimidation” and “retribution”.

Morrison, who also swore himself in as minister for health, finance and resources, said he would have admitted to the moves if he had been asked.

“Had I been asked about these matters at the time at the numerous press conferences I held, I would have responded truthfully about the arrangements I had put in place,” Morrison said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in his speech Morrison exhibited “hubris and denial”.

“The former prime minister owes an apology,” Albanese said. “He owes an apology to the Australian people for the undermining of democracy.”

Archer said in her remarks she was disappointed in her former boss.

“I do not accept any of the explanations put forward by the former prime minister for the actions, and I’m deeply disappointed for the lack of apology or, more importantly, the lack of understanding of the impact of the decisions,” she said.