A report into Scott Morrison’s secret portfolios found they “fundamentally undermined” trust in government.

The former prime minister became a duplicate health minister at the height of COVID-19 and later took on an extra four portfolios without informing his colleagues.

Former High Court Justice Virginia Bell, who has been looking into the matter since August, has handed down her report today.

She said the move was unnecessary and labelled the appointments as “corrosive of trust in government”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it’s been confirmed Mr Morrison also sought advice on being appointed the Minister for Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

“The actions of the former prime minister were extraordinary, they were unprecedented and they were wrong,” he said.

Ms Bell made six recommendations to the government she says would prevent repeats of Mr Morrison’s power grab.

These include publishing acting arrangements for ministers and governments to reflect how responsibilities are shared when more than one minister oversees a portfolio.

Mr Albanese has recommended Cabinet adopts all six recommendations.

“You should be able to have trust in your government. Governments shouldn’t operate in darkness. Our actions will make sure they can’t.”

The report’s release comes shortly after former treasurer Josh Frydenberg broke his silence on the matter, accusing Mr Morrison of “extreme overreach”.

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