Ed,

Former prime minister Scott Morrison’s behaviour, particularly in relation to secretly appointing himself to various ministerial roles, appears to have placed him above the rules he endorsed for his ministers and assistant ministers.

On April 8, 2022, he wrote in the foreword of the Australian Government Statement of Ministerial Standards, “Serving the Australian people as Ministers and Assistant Ministers is an honour and comes with expectations to act at all times to the highest possible standards of probity.

“All Ministers and Assistant Ministers are expected to conduct themselves in line with standards established in this Statement in order to maintain the trust of the Australian people.

“…I expect all ministers in the Australian Government to live up to the high standards expected of them by the Australian people at all times.”

The ‘Principles’ section of the document recognises “that public office is a public trust, therefore, the people of Australia are entitled to expect that, as a matter of principle, Ministers will act with due regard for integrity, fairness, accountability, responsibility, and the public interest, as required by these Standards”.

At 1.3 (iii) in the ‘Principles’ section, the document highlights the importance of ministers “carrying out their duties”: “Ministers must accept accountability for the exercise of the powers and functions of their office – that is, to ensure that their conduct, representations and decisions as Ministers, and the conduct, representations and decisions of those who act as their delegates or on their behalf – are open to public scrutiny and explanation.”

There have been assertions by pundits –ranging from professional media types to local letter writers – that no harm was done or that the constitution was not breached, so there’s nothing to worry about.

I think these people are missing the point.

Integrity, transparency and accountability are the cornerstones of a socially and economically responsible governments and the societies they govern; Mr Morrison let himself, his government and the Australian people down when, in his own words, he failed to “act at all times to the highest possible standards of probity”.

Nor did he “ensure that [his] conduct, representations and decisions as [Prime] Minister – and the conduct, representations and decisions of those who act[ed] as [his] delegates or on [his] behalf – [were] open to public scrutiny and explanation.”

Across all governments – federal, state, territorial and local – people who believe in the role our democracy plays in creating a free, fair, safe, inclusive, equitable and cooperative society expect the traits outlined by the former prime minister to be respected by our elected and bureaucratic leaders.

Sadly, it seems there is a growing complacency in relation to the trashing of these concepts: the former Morrison government’s refusal to implement a federal corruption watchdog in the face of a raft of scandals; the resignations of the NSW Government’s former premier and deputy premier under dubious circumstances, and Clarence Valley Council’s penchant for secrecy, are just a few issues that defy the concepts of “integrity, fairness, accountability, responsibility and the public interest”.

Geoff Helisma, James Creek