ANALYSIS: How Scott Morrison's power grab was made, and what happened next
By 2020, Porter and Hunt jointly decided the powers under the Biosecurity Act were so immense that there needed to be a broader framework of responsibility and oversight around them.
This mechanism was guided by advice from the Attorney-General's department and the Australian Government Solicitor. Four days later — March 18, 2020 — a "human biosecurity emergency" was declared under the Biosecurity Act, giving health minister Greg Hunt sweeping, plenary powers. No one outside the Prime Minister's Office knew that the advice provided by Porter's office to the PMO would then be used as a template to expand Morrison's reach.The super ministry of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources came more than a year later , ostensibly so that Morrison could snatch the unilateral decision-making powers of the resources minister Keith Pitt to reject an offshore gas project.
Then came Home Affairs and Treasury , for reasons Morrison has not been able to convincingly explain.