This Crikey investigation labels the prime minister something no leader would want to be called. We don't really want to do it. But the time has come.
www.crikey.com.au
LIE
Morrison: “As a government, we believe in the two-state solution. It seems now in politics here in Australia that is no longer a bipartisan view, and I think that’s disappointing.”1
The truth: On May 13, Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong issued a statement on the Palestine crisis, saying “we remain committed to a just and enduring two-state solution”.2
1 Address, budget lunch, May 15, 2021
2
Violence in Israel, Gaza and Jerusalem, Penny Wong, May 13, 2021
2
LIE
Morrison: [On Taiwan] “We’ve always understood the one system, two countries arrangement and we will continue to follow our policies there … One country, two systems, I should say.” 1
The truth: There is no “one country, two systems arrangement” in relation to Taiwan recognised by Australia; government officials briefed journalists that it was a mistake and the prime minister had meant to refer to Hong Kong, where “one country, two systems” has long been accepted.
However, the prime minister, when asked in a later interview with SBS on May 12 (the transcript of which has not been published by the prime minister’s office) “did you make a mistake in that comment?”, answered “no” and added “what we know is that we have a situation with China in which we’ve recognised how they see these relationships in the region, and particularly in relation to Taiwan and Hong Kong and things of that nature”.
This again misstates Australia’s position, as Australia does not recognise China’s claim to Taiwan, but merely acknowledges that China makes the claim.2, 3
1
Interview with Neil Mitchell, May 6, 2021
2
SBS, May 12, 2021
3
ABC, May 13, 2021
3
FALSEHOOD
Morrison: “Our current target will see Australia — this is for 2030 — reduce our emissions by 70% per unit of GDP on 2005 levels…”1
The truth: The government’s own documents state: “The emissions intensity of the economy (Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) has continued to decline and is projected to fall by 58% from 2005 to 2030.”2, 3
1 Address to the
Business Council of Australia, April 19, 2021
2
Australia’s emissions projections 2020, December 2020, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Video
4
FALSEHOOD
Morrison: “I want to stress that at no time yesterday did I make any comment about the actions of the European Union, nor did I indicate any of the background reasons for the lack of supply that we have received from those contracted doses. And so, any suggestion that I, in any way, made any criticism of the European Union yesterday, would be completely incorrect.”1
The truth: Morrison said the previous day about reasons for slow vaccine rollout, “the supply is the major restraint and always has been, whether it’s been the non-delivery of vaccines from overseas, some 3 million that we were relying upon, and we all are aware of the situation in Europe and other places that has frustrated that supply”.2
1
Media conference, April 7, 2021
2
Media conference, April 6, 2021
Video
5
LIE
Morrison: “Right now, you [a Sky News journalist] would be aware that in your own organisation that there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a women’s toilet and that matter is being pursued by your own HR department.”1
The truth: No such complaint of harassment was ever made. As Morrison admitted in a late-night apology the same day, “I deeply regret my insensitive response to a question from a News Ltd journalist by making an anonymous reference to an incident at News Ltd that has been rejected by the company. I accept their account. I was wrong to raise it, the emotion of the moment is no excuse”.2
1
Media conference, March 23, 2021
2
Facebook post, March 23, 2021
Video
6
LIE
Morrison: “As I’ve indicated to the House before and I’ll indicate again today, this work [the inquiry into who knew about Brittany Higgins in the prime minister’s office] is being done by the secretary of my department … He has not provided me with a further update about when I might expect that report, but I have no doubt the opposition will be able to ask questions of him in Senate estimates next week, which is the appropriate place where those matters can be raised with the secretary of my department.” 1
The truth: According to Phil Gaetjens, the head of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), he updated Morrison on March 9 that his inquiry was placed on indefinite hold while police investigations were undertaken. Gaetjens refused to answer any questions at estimates.
1
Question time, March 18, 2021
2
Gaetjens’ evidence to Senate estimates, March 22, 2021
Video
7
LIE
Morrison: “I thank the member for his question [about former Liberal ministers travelling overseas during the pandemic] and wonder why he’d want to bring personalities into this, given that Mr Rudd has done the same thing.”1
The truth: Kevin Rudd never left the country during the pandemic. Morrison was forced to apologise to Rudd that day.2
1
Question time, December 7, 2020
2
Letter to the clerk of the House of Representatives, December 7, 2020
Video
8
LIE
Morrison: “There are 40 ships, and I’m told there’s some 90,000 containers out there [delayed by industrial action]. That includes medical supplies. I mean we cannot have the militant end of the union movement effectively engaging in a campaign of extortion against the Australian people in the middle of a COVID-19 recession … You can go down to Port Botany or down to Kurnell and have a look out there and you can see them lining up…” 1
The truth: Seven vessels were either waiting or had just arrived at Port Botany when Morrison made the claim. Three were delayed. The stevedoring company stated no medical supplies were affected by the dispute.2, 3
1
Media conference, September 29, 2020
2
RMIT Fact Check, October 9, 2020
3
The Sydney Morning Herald, September 30, 2020
Video (starting at 21:38)
9
FALSEHOOD
Morrison: “The agreement puts Australia at the top of the queue, if our medical experts give the vaccines the green light.”1
The truth: Australia’s vaccination rollout began on February 22, 2021. By that date, according to the
Financial Times’
global tracker, over 200 million vaccinations had already been delivered worldwide. The Australian rollout schedule was subsequently delayed repeatedly due to the government’s inability to source vaccines.2, 3
1
Media release, September 7, 2020
2
Screenshot of the
FT tracker for February 22, 2021
3
Media conference, April 6, 2021
10
FALSEHOOD
Morrison: “The authority for making the decisions in relation to that program [sports grants] was the minister for sport. That is the fact, Mr Speaker. It may be inconvenient to the opposition, but that is the fact. The only authority sought from the prime minister’s office and from me was in relation to announcements.”1
The truth: Evidence from the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) shows that Morrison’s office dictated the removal and addition of sports grants to the minister for sport’s office for the political benefit of the government. The ANAO stated “on March 26, 2019 the prime minister’s office had advised the minister’s office that it was expected that the minister would write to the prime minister to seek ‘authority’ on the approved projects and inform him of the ‘rollout plan'”.2
1
Question time, May 13, 2020
2
Letter from the auditor-general on April 16, 2020 to the Senate Select Committee on the Administration of Sports Grants
11
FALSEHOOD
Morrison: “The head of the PM&C had access to whatever document he required [when preparing his report into the “sports rorts” scandal].”1
The truth: In his submission to the Senate Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants, Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Phil Gaetjens said: “It is important to note that the auditor-general is not required to share audit information with external parties in most cases, nor do I have the power to compel information from individuals. In this case, the auditor-general did not provide any information to me that the ANAO used for its audit.”2
1
Question time, February 26, 2020
2
Submission by Gaetjens to the Senate Select Committee on the Administration of Sports Grants, February 14, 2020
Video (starting at 14:55)
12
FALSEHOOD
Morrison: “I think it’s important to note that the auditor-general did not find there were any ineligible projects that were funded under this scheme, and nor did he say that rules had been broken.”1
The truth: Officials from the ANAO told a Senate inquiry that 43% of projects funded under the program were ineligible when agreements were signed. Morrison had cited the ANAO’s original report, which said “no applications assessed as ineligible were awarded grant funding”. But officials explained this related to Sport Australia’s assessment of ineligibility. Many projects that were ineligible under program guidelines but wrongly assessed as eligible were funded.2
1
National Press Club Q&A, January 29, 2020
2
ANAO evidence to Senate Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants, February 13, 2020
Video (starting at 2:05)
13
FALSEHOOD
Morrison: “Well, I just reject the premise of the question [as to whether the government believed there was nothing wrong with using public funds for its own private political interests]. That’s not why we did it … You can have an editorial on it if you like and you’re welcome to that. But that’s not why I did it. And that’s not why the government did it.”1
The truth: The ANAO’s independent report concluded the $100 million community sport infrastructure fund was targeted towards marginal or Coalition-held seats, with the government using
a spreadsheet colour-coded by electorate to determine who should receive funding.2
1
National Press Club Q&A, January 29, 2020
2
ANAO report, January 15, 2020
Video (starting at 3:17)
14
LIE
Morrison: “There is no credible energy transition plan, for an economy like Australia in particular, that does not involve the greater use of gas as an important transition fuel.”1
The truth: There are many energy transition plans that involve less gas, including the one by the independent Australian Energy Market Operator. On the other hand, there are no transition plans that involve a greater use of gas.2
1
National Press Club speech, January 29, 2020
2 As
Guardian Australia reported, the following reports all recommend transitions with less gas:
Australian Energy Market Operator,
Beyond Zero Emissions,
ClimateWorks,
ANU,
UNSW,
Institute for Sustainable Futures,
Stanford University,
CSIRO and the Energy Networks Association, the
Finkel review, and
PwC and Jacobs.
Video