KEY POINTS:
- Mike Pezzullo has been dumped as Home Affairs secretary.
- It comes after revelations Pezzullo lobbied the former government over key decisions.
- Pezzullo stood aside in September as an inquiry was conducted.
Powerful public servant Mike Pezzullo has been fired after revelations he inappropriately attempted to influence decisions made by the former Coalition government.
after the Nine newspapers reported a cache of text messages which uncovered the extent of his desire to shape government policy, via a former Liberal powerbroker.
Pezzullo was revealed to have urged Liberal powerbroker Scott Briggs to ensure conservative Liberals were promoted to key positions, and lobbied for tougher censoring of media reporting on national security laws.
In a statement on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Pezzullo had been sacked from his post after an inquiry found he had breached the Australian Public Service code.
Clare O’Neil referred Pezzullo to the Australian Public Service Commission before Anthony Albanese confirmed his termination. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"This action was based on a recommendation to me by the secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Public Service commissioner, following an independent inquiry by Lynelle Briggs.
"That inquiry found breaches of the Australian Public Service code of conduct by Mr Pezzullo."
Albanese said Pezzullo had "fully cooperated" with the inquiry, confirming Stephanie Foster will continue to act in his place until a permanent appointment is made.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil revealed the report found Pezzullo in breach of the public service code on at least 14 occasions after a "lengthy, proper" investigation.
"Our government places extremely high value on the professionalism and integrity of the Australian public service ... We regard these matters as very serious, and they required a serious investigation to get to the bottom of what happened," she told Parliament on Monday.
"What does this say about our government and our approach to the business of the work we do? We have profound respect for the frank and fearless advice that the Australian public service has a great history of providing to Australian governments.
"We value the integrity of the Australian public service. Indeed, we insist on it.”
Why was the decision made?
O'Neil said the investigation looked into five "overarching allegations", that Pezzullo:
- Used his duty, power, status, or authority to seek or gain benefit or advantage for himself
- Engaged in gossip and disrespectful critique of ministers and public servants
- Failed to maintain confidentiality of sensitive government information
- Failed to act apolitically in his employment
- Failed to disclose a conflict of interest
Pezzullo exchanged over a thousand text messages with Briggs, a former NSW Liberals vice-president who was also a close confidant of former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison.
Public servants operating under the Westminster system are expected to act apolitically, and not involve themselves in partisan political decision-making.
But the cache of texts shows Pezzullo urging Briggs to ensure conservative Liberals were elevated to senior positions.
A host of crossbenchers demanded Pezzullo resign after the revelations, while O’Neil said she referred the matter to the Australian Public Service Commission "immediately" after learning of the messages.
The texts showed Pezzullo (left, pictured in 2015) lobbying for conservative Liberals Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott (second from right and right). Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
In the texts, Pezzullo also suggested former defence minister Christopher Pyne - a moderate - be sacked, and described former foreign minister Marise Payne as "completely ineffectual" and "a problem".
He said he almost "almost had a heart attack" upon hearing that Julie Bishop - another moderate - was involved in a tilt for party leadership in 2018.
A host of crossbenchers, including Greens senator Nick McKim, called on Pezzullo to resign in September. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
It is not suggested the messages show corrupt or illegal conduct, but arguably that Pezzullo overstepped the required impartiality of a departmental head.
Who is Mike Pezzullo?
Pezzullo is widely considered one of Australia’s most influential public servants.
In 2017, he was appointed secretary of the expanded Home Affairs Department, which placed responsibility for immigration, law enforcement, and domestic counter-terrorism under the one umbrella.
Turnbull appointed Dutton as home affairs minister.
Pezzullo’s move came after three years as Department of Immigration and Border Protection secretary, a role he also served in under Dutton.
Malcolm Turnbull appointed Dutton as home affairs minister, with Pezzullo becoming secretary. Source: AAP
"Let us continue to search unceasingly for the chance for peace while bracing again, yet again, for the curse of war," he wrote.
"War might well be folly, but the greater folly is to wish away the curse by refusing to give it thought and attention, as if in so doing, war might leave us be, forgetting us perhaps."
The message was delivered during a period of rising tensions with Beijing and just after Dutton warned war with China over Taiwan could not be discounted.
