He admitted this was the case, noting in his memoirs "there are always some officials who will take advantage of war powers and do things they could not possibly get away with in a time of peace".

That is precisely what Scott Morrison, who had a sworn duty to protect the democratic process, did during Australia's "war" against the pandemic.

By having himself secretly sworn in to multiple ministries and then failing to disclose this unprecedented consolidation of powers the former PM made a mockery of Australian democracy.

The Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus nailed it when he told the House: "This is sinister stuff; this is secret government. People have a right to know who is the minister for this, who is the minister for that".

Given there was a clear principle at stake it is disappointing only one Coalition MP crossed the floor. It is equally disappointing in his defence of his leadership during the pandemic Mr Morrison refused to concede he had done anything wrong.

While Mr Dreyfus was able to cite the hypocrisy inherent in the Coalition's failure to censure their former leader by citing public criticism of his actions by former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull, John Howard and Tony Abbott, and current opposition leader Peter Dutton, he couldn't make Mr Morrison see the light.

Repeated assertions by the former PM and his defenders that these were "extraordinary times" cut straight to the issue of the abuse of powers during a national emergency identified by President Truman.

Wednesday's censure motion was not a debate about the merits, or lack thereof, of the former government's response to COVID. Mr Morrison was in error when he tried to conflate his government's record with his attempt at "stealth government".

They are two different things. Australia is governed by democratic conventions and the rule of law. It is not generally accepted - as Mr Morrison and his defenders seem to think - that the end justifies the means.

It would not have been enough, as many LNP members averred, to simply adopt the recommendations of the Bell inquiry, which was damning in its condemnation of the former PM. Mr Morrison's actions further eroded confidence in politicians and the integrity of the democratic process. An error of that magnitude has to have consequences.

It should also be noted, given Mr Morrison's apparently wholehearted endorsement of the Bell inquiry and its findings, that this sits very oddly with his refusal to co-operate fully with Justice Virginia Bell, despite having given a commitment to do so.

The former PM has been accused of deceptive and devious conduct on many occasions. His lack of contrition and refusal to acknowledge facts when conducting his defence has done little to allay concerns about his alleged character flaws.

Given Mr Morrison appears to be desperate to defend his legacy, he would have been well advised to take the criticism of his overreach on the chin, to admit it was wrong, and to say he was sorry.

By being so adamantly resistant to a reality obvious to so many others, Mr Morrison has ensured that any future discussion of his legacy will be seen through the lens of his hubris and sense of self-entitlement.

It is unfortunate, given his very real services to the country, that when it comes to this issue he just doesn't get it.