Liberal MP Bridget Archer has told parliament the government’s censure motion against former Prime Minister Scott Morrison is “an essential motion” that goes to our system of democracy.
On Wednesday morning, Archer delivered a speech in the House of Representatives explaining her decision to support the censuring of Morrison. Standing apart from the rest of the Liberal party, Archer said she does not accept any of the “explanations” Morrison has given as to why he secretly appointed himself to multiple ministries.
“As Virginia Bell concluded in her report, the actions taken were corrosive to trust in politics. Those actions sit outside the expectations of the Australian people. And it sits outside of how we expect elected representatives in the highest office to act,” Archer said in her speech to parliament.
“I’ve relentlessly advocated for more integrity and politics and fought for an integrity commission that would begin to restore the public’s faith in elected officials. To sit quietly now would be hypocritical and I firmly believe we should be intentional in the actions we take to ensure that we do not let this happen again.”
Her support for the censure motion comes after many of her Coalition colleagues shook Morrison’s hand and went on to vote against the censure motion. Karen Andrews is the only Coalition MP who chose to abstain from the vote.
“I’ve said time and time again that we talk very much in this house about the great privilege and honour of being here. But we talk less often about the responsibility that comes with that,” Archer said.
“There is a great privilege that comes with being the prime minister. But with that comes great responsibility and accountability. Which you can’t have without transparency.”
Archer said “it might be a shock to some who sit here from all sides, but this is not a game. There are things that sit above the cut and thrust of politics and the essential motion goes to our system of democracy.”
“It would be remiss of me not to mention that for me this issue also sits at the heart of the ability of our party to move forward,” she said.
Archer said the censure motion was a clear opportunity for the Liberal Party to draw a line and “move in the right direction”.
“We must heed the message sent to us at the May election. Learn those lessons. Reset and move forward constructively,” she said.
Archer closed her speech with a powerful statement about true “Liberal values” and why these values underpin her decision to censure Morrison.
“In closing, I just say this. I am a Liberal. I believe in Liberal values. And our statement of values says this; we believe in the rule of law. Under it there is freedom for the nation and for all men and women,” she said.
“Democracy depends upon self discipline, obedience to the law, and the honest administration of the law. And it is for this reason, I’m obligated to support this motion.”