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Social services minister Scott Morrison has revealed Tony Abbott offered him the roles of Treasurer and deputy party leader in the hours before Monday’s leadership spill in a fiery and at times bizarre interview on Sydney talkback radio.
Speaking with Ray Hadley on 2GB, Mr Morrison was also subjected to demands by the shock jock to swear on the Bible he had been honest in earlier interviews.
Mr Morrison said he was stunned when Mr Abbott offered him Joe Hockey’s job in an apparent effort to save his own position.
“I supported the prime minister, he offered me the job of treasurer hours out from that ballot,” Mr Morrison said.
“He’d never done that before, he’d never had a discussion with me before about being his deputy leader.
“I can’t understand why I was being offered that job when he had showed such strong support for Joe Hockey.
“He was asking me to throw Joe Hockey under a bus.”
Mr Morrison – who used the word ‘mate’ up to 18 times during the testy exchange - is expected to be appointed Treasurer in Malcolm Turnbull’s new-look cabinet, one of few Abbott loyalists in line for promotion.
He told Hadley he felt the move would have backfired with the public and went against Mr Abbott’s recent form.
“I didn’t understand how, if we were successful that night, we would explain to the Australian people why he thought Joe Hockey was the best man for treasurer the day before and then why I was the best man for treasurer the day after,” he said.
“I mean, one of Tony Abbott’s great strengths is his loyalty.
“I didn’t understand why he wanted me to pick a fight with Joe Hockey and throw him under a bus and why he wanted me to pick a fight with Julie Bishop who I had no grievance with.”
The interview took a surreal turn when Hadley demanded Mr Morrison swear on a Bible he had not worked against the prime minister to trigger a spill.
Not only was a Bible not at hand for Mr Morrison in the 2GB Canberra studio, the social services minister furiously rejected the request.
“I don’t see what my faith has to do with it,” Mr Morrison said.
“You get to judge my policies, but you don’t get to judge my faith mate.
“I’m not going to use my faith as a stunt for your program.
“I don’t appreciate you bringing faith and religion into this argument.”
Mr Turnbull is expected to reveal his new ministry on Monday after reshuffling portfolios over the weekend.
