Anthony Albanese pushes Scott Morrison inquiry after Coalition probed Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd

Anthony Albanese has been accused of being ‘obsessed’ with Scott Morrison and pursuing the secret jobs scandal purely to inflict maximum political damage on the Coalition.

The prime minister – who is riding high in the polls – revealed on Tuesday he will push for an inquiry into why and how his predecessor secretly swore himself into five ministerial portfolios, despite the moves being ruled completely legal.

Although the type of inquiry has not been decided, comparisons are already being drawn to when Tony Abbott called two Royal Commissions relating to the former Labor government.

One examined Kevin Rudd’s 2009 Home Insulation Program, in which four tradies were killed, and the other probed union corruption and included the questioning of Julia Gillard’s former boyfriend from 1990, Bruce Wilson.

Anthony Albanese has sought to get in front of suggestions his inquiry is politically motivated

Mr Albanese has sought to get out in front of any suggestions his inquiry is politically motivated.

‘It needs to be not a political inquiry but an inquiry with an eminent person with a legal background to consider all the implications,’ he said on Tuesday.

But Coalition MPs believe the prime minister is pursuing the issue for his own political gain.

Luke Howarth, Liberal MP for Petrie and Shadow Minister for Defence Industry, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Australians don’t want this negative politics.

Tony Abbott called a Royal Commission which probed union corruption and included the questioning of Julia Gillard’s former boyfriend Bruce Wilson. Ms Gillard is pictured in 2013 with her more recent boyfriend Tim Mathieson

Ex-union official and the former boyfriend of Julia Gillard, Bruce Wilson

‘Anthony Albanese is obsessed with Scott Morrison, which I find disturbing.

‘He needs to get on with governing, stop looking in the rear view mirror and concentrate on his commitments such as reducing power bills by $275 a year.’

Mr Morrison secretly swore himself in as minister for health, finance, resources, home affairs and as treasurer in 2020 and 2021, without telling the public or Cabinet.

Legal advice to Mr Albanese from the solicitor-general said Mr Morrison’s moves were completely legal but ‘undermined’ the principle of responsible government.

Mr Albanese said he would make sure all future ministerial appointments are required to be made public.

But even after fixing the loophole, he still wants a further inquiry.  

‘Clearly, there is a need to ensure there is absolute confidence in our political system going forward,’ he said on Tuesday.

Mr Morrison has said he will co-operate but insisted that any Covid-19 inquiry should also involve the state premiers.

Liberal senator Hollie Hughes also said an inquiry just focussing on Mr Morrison would be wrong.

Another of Tony Abbott’s royal commissions examined Kevin Rudd’s 2009 Home Insulation Program in which four tradies were killed. Mr Rudd is pictured with wife Therese Rein in 2008

‘An inquiry into the national Covid response, including the actions of the former Prime Minister is the right pathway forward,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘All leaders, including Premiers, should be subject to scrutiny. Not just Scott Morrison.

She added: ‘The Solicitor-General’s advice has cleared the former Prime Minister of any illegality. It’s time for Anthony Albanese to move on.’

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley urged Mr Albanese to focus on the cost of living crisis, saying: ‘I don’t support the continued focus on events of two years ago.’ 

Liberal senator Hollie Hughes said an inquiry just focussing on Mr Morrison would be wrong

And Mr Abbott said a review would be better than an inquiry, adding: ‘When you don’t get good sensible behaviour, the best recourse is through the political process.’ 

Malcolm Turnbull said the inquiry must examine the public servants who knew about Mr Morrison’s power grab but failed to push back.

It comes after a Resolve Strategic poll published in Nine newspapers on Tuesday shows Labor has lifted its primary vote to 42 per cent, from about 33 per cent ahead of the May 21 election.

The Coalition’s primary vote is down to 28 per cent from 36 per cent. 

Mr Albanese is leading Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on the preferred prime minister stakes by 55 per cent to 17 per cent.

‘It’s not uncommon for a new government to enjoy a honeymoon period where voters are hopeful for change under the new management,’ Resolve director Jim Reed told Nine newspapers.

‘But the size of Labor’s vote gain is more than that. This is a relieved electorate affirming they collectively made the right choice.’

The poll of 2011 voters and was conducted from Wednesday to Sunday when the furore over revelations that Mr Morrison had himself secretly sworn into five ministerial portfolios was hitting the headlines.

Labor minister Bill Shorten said the poll showed the positivity expressed towards the party at the election was continuing.