Scott Morrison used to drug himself with sedatives to get a good night’s sleep during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The former Prime Minister would often wake up at 3am, his mind whirring about how to tackle the crisis.

Sometimes the insomniac PM would resort to taking a sleeping pills so that he could get to some rest and properly function the next day.

The revelations have been made in a new book, Plagued, about the federal government’s handling of the pandemic, which also detailed how Mr Morrison had three secret jobs during the pandemic after swearing himself in as health minister, finance minister and resources minister.

The book, written by political journalists Geoff Chambers and Simon Benson from The Australian newspaper, also canvasses some of the policies Australia nearly embraced to fight the pandemic, including restrictions at the pub. 

In a section on Mr Morrison’s sleepless nights, the book says: ‘He’d often wake at 3am, wrestling with the scale of what was facing the country and his responsibilities dealing with it.

Scott Morrison (pictured in March 2022) suffered insomnia and used to drug himself with sleeping pills to get a good night's rest during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic

Scott Morrison (pictured in March 2022) suffered insomnia and used to drug himself with sleeping pills to get a good night's rest during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic

Scott Morrison (pictured in March 2022) suffered insomnia and used to drug himself with sleeping pills to get a good night’s rest during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic

‘He’d rouse in a fitful state and look at the ceiling for hours on end, saying to himself: ”I have to sleep or I won’t get through this week”.’

Mr Morrison suffered one of these episodes before one cabinet meeting on June 3, 2020. He took half a sleeping pill to help him dose off.

The former Prime Minister had also suffered from insomnia when he was preparing for a budget as treasurer under Malcolm Turnbull, according to the book.

The book also reveals some of the Covid-19 restrictions that were discussed between Mr Morrison and the state premiers in the early days of national cabinet.

One idea that was not taken up was to allow drinkers into a pub for two hours on a rotation system using wristbands. 

The former Prime Minister (pictured with wife Jenny) would often wake up at 3am, his mind whirring about how to tackle the crisis

The former Prime Minister (pictured with wife Jenny) would often wake up at 3am, his mind whirring about how to tackle the crisis

The former Prime Minister (pictured with wife Jenny) would often wake up at 3am, his mind whirring about how to tackle the crisis

The former PM recalled: ‘We were talking about pubs… the idea of people only being allowed in for two hours, how would you rotate them in and out – with wristbands or stamps’. 

When Gladys Berejiklian and Daniel Andrews informed the media of their March 2020 lockdowns, the other premiers were apparently furious they had not been warned first.

Queensland leader Annastacia Palaszczuk and WA Premier Mark McGowan were particularly angered and Ms Berejiklian apologised for the lack of consultation, the books says. 

Premier Palaszczuk also features in the book in a chapter on state border closures. 

In September 2020 Mr Morrison phoned the premier, begging her to let 26-year-old Canberra nurse Sarah Caisip attend her father’s funeral in Brisbane after he died while she was in hotel quarantine.

Ms Caisip (pictured) was eventually allowed to see her father's casket but was forced to wear full PPE

Ms Caisip (pictured) was eventually allowed to see her father's casket but was forced to wear full PPE

Ms Caisip (pictured) was eventually allowed to see her father’s casket but was forced to wear full PPE

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) apparently accused Scott Morrison of bullying her

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) apparently accused Scott Morrison of bullying her

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) apparently accused Scott Morrison of bullying her

Ms Palaszczuk apparently accused him of bullying her before hanging up.

”You are bullying me,” Palaszczuk accused him abruptly, before reminding the prime minister that it was R U OK? Day,’ the book says.

Ms Caisip was eventually allowed to see her father’s casket but was forced to wear full PPE and ushered by government workers wearing gloves.

The book also describes how Mr Morrison was secretly sworn in as health minister, finance minister and resources minister during the Covid-19 pandemic in an extraordinary series of moves that are now being investigated by the new Labor government. 

One idea discussed among premiers that was not taken up was to allow drinkers into a pub for two hours on a rotation system using wristbands. Pictured: A Sydney pub

One idea discussed among premiers that was not taken up was to allow drinkers into a pub for two hours on a rotation system using wristbands. Pictured: A Sydney pub

One idea discussed among premiers that was not taken up was to allow drinkers into a pub for two hours on a rotation system using wristbands. Pictured: A Sydney pub

In early 2020, the then prime minister decided he wanted to share power with the existing health and finance ministers, Greg Hunt and Mathias Cormann, to prevent them wielding too much influence over the nation’s biosecurity laws and coffers during the crisis.

The plan was hatched with the approval of attorney-general Christian Porter. Mr Morrison apparently told Mr Hunt: ‘I trust you, mate… but I’m swearing myself in as health minister, too.’ 

It has since been revealed that in April 2021 the former PM was sworn in as resources minister to prevent Keith Pitt from approving a huge oil and gas project off the Central Coast where Liberal members faced pressure from climate activists and teal independents. 

A concerned Mr Pitt only found out in December when he wanted to move ahead with the project but the PM killed it.

Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as health minister and finance minister during the Covid-19 pandemic

Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as health minister and finance minister during the Covid-19 pandemic

Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as health minister and finance minister during the Covid-19 pandemic

The secretive moves were slammed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who is seeking advice as to whether the actions were legal.

‘This is quite extraordinary. Australians need a prime minister who is focused on the job that they’re given,’ he told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.

Mr Morrison told Sky News he did not wish to comment, adding: ‘I haven’t seen what he has said. Since leaving the job I haven’t engaged in any day to day politics’. 

I don’t know if it’s some Messianic complex or if he thought he was the Australian version of Kanye 
Bill Shorten on Scott Morrison 

Explaining why Mr Morrison wanted to share power with the health and finance ministers, the book – written by journalists at The Australian – says he felt there ‘needed to be more checks and balances before any single minister could wield such powers’.

The health minister was in charge of shutting the nation’s borders and the finance minister was overseeing the largest fiscal stimulus in Australia’s history. 

The powers could not be delegated to Cabinet so Mr Morrison ‘then hatched a radical and until now secret plan with Porter’s approval.’

Mr Hunt was aware of the decision and Mr Morrison, Mr Hunt and Mr Porter felt the move safeguarded ‘against any one minister having absolute power.’

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny in January 2022

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny in January 2022

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny in January 2022

Anthony Albanese slams Scott Morrison for ‘shadow government’ 

‘Scott Morrison was running a shadow Government. A shadow Government that was operating in the shadows. What we have when we get sworn in as ministers is that there’s some transparency there. 

‘A whole lot of questions arise from this.

‘In Australia, we have a Westminster system of government that produces accountability. This is the sort of tin-pot activity that we would ridicule if it was in a non-democratic country.

‘These circumstances should never have arisen. You know, we do have a non-presidential system of government in this country. 

‘But what we had from Scott Morrison is a centralisation of power, is overriding of ministerial decisions, and all done in secret. All done in secret.’  

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However, Mr Cormann was reportedly unaware that Mr Morrison was sharing his job, and Mr Pitt reportedly complained to deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce about the PM intervening on his turf. 

In a statement on Monday, Governor-General David Hurley revealed he swore Mr Morrison in to several portfolios by signing an ‘administrative instrument’, meaning no public ceremony was required.

He appointed Mr Morrison as administrator of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources on April 15, 2021. 

‘The decision whether to publicise appointments to administer additional portfolios is a matter for the government of the day,’ the statement said. 

The Governor-General said the appointments were legal under section 64 of the constitution. 

During a press conference on Monday, Mr Albanese hit out at his predecessor. 

‘The people of Australia were kept in the dark as to what the ministerial arrangements were. It’s completely unacceptable,’ he said.

‘There’s an absolute need for clear transparency. These circumstances should never have arisen. 

‘You know, we do have a non-presidential system of government in this country – but what we had from Scott Morrison is a centralisation of power, is overriding of ministerial decisions, and all done in secret.’ 

Federal health minister Greg Hunt addresses the media at a press conference in March 2022

Federal health minister Greg Hunt addresses the media at a press conference in March 2022

Federal health minister Greg Hunt addresses the media at a press conference in March 2022

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said the move was ‘weird’ and accused Mr Morrison – an evangelical Christian – of having a ‘messianic’ complex.

‘He was ghosting his own cabinet ministers, he was off on a trip. I don’t know if it’s some messianic complex or if he thought he was the Australian version of Kanye,’ Mr Shorten told ABC radio.

‘I don’t know what was going through his head. Why not tell people, why be secretive?

‘This is about the constitution, it’s about our whole system of government. You really need to have a good explanation and I haven’t heard one yet.’

Mr Shorten said the move showed Mr Morrison ‘didn’t trust his colleagues’. 

Mr Morrison and Australian then Finance Minister Mathias Cormann drinking beer in 2018

Mr Morrison and Australian then Finance Minister Mathias Cormann drinking beer in 2018

Mr Morrison and Australian then Finance Minister Mathias Cormann drinking beer in 2018

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