Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed on Monday to launch an investigation following revelations that his predecessor Scott Morrison secretly appointed himself to several ministerial posts during the Covid-19 pandemic, AFP and Agerpres reported.

Scott Morrison has been accused of “undesirable activity”, according to the new head of government. He would appoint himself minister for health, finance and resources, among other duties, alongside existing ministers, without informing his colleagues, parliament or voters.

Describing the facts as “extraordinary and unprecedented”, Anthony Albanese announced that he had sought legal advice. “This is a kind of undesirable activity that I would ridicule if it happened in a non-democratic country. Scott Morrison led a ghost government,” Albanese said.

In some cases, the former head of government called himself a co-minister without informing the members of the government who held the respective positions, thereby ascribing certain powers to himself. It is not yet clear how many functions Morrison has offered himself, but local media have reported that he has seized the resources portfolio and used his power to stop a major gas project in Sydney.

Scott Morrison, accused of violating democratic values

Scott Morrison’s Conservative coalition lost May’s election after nearly a decade in power.

The “ghost government” scandal has shed light on the opaque nature of decision-making in the Australian government and raised questions about the need to strengthen democratic safeguards.

Constitutional law lawyer Ann Tunney believes the charges could spark legal challenges to some of the former government’s decisions.

“The secrecy surrounding this case is simply amazing. You wonder what is wrong with these people if they have to do everything in secret. This is completely inappropriate. We live in a democracy that requires transparency,” she said.