One of the nation’s most powerful public servants who was earning over $900,000 a year has been sacked after he was exposed badmouthing political leaders including Julie Bishop in bombshell private text messages.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed today departmental secretary Mike Pezzullo’s employment had been terminated after several weeks of “gardening leave”.
Earlier today the Governor-General in Council terminated the appointment of Michael Pezzullo as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs.
“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,’’ Mr Albanese said.
“That inquiry found breaches of the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct by Mr Pezzullo. Mr Pezzullo fully cooperated with the inquiry.
“Stephanie Foster will continue to act as Secretary of the Department until a permanent appointment is made.”
In a separate statement, the Australian Public Service Commissioner, Dr Gordon de Brouwer noted that the inquiry was conducted under the provisions of the Public Service Act, and consistent with the principles of procedural fairness.
“Ms Briggs determined that Mr Pezzullo breached the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct on at least 14 occasions in relation to 5 overarching allegations,’’ the statement said.
The alleged breaches included:
- used his duty, power, status or authority to seek to gain a 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.
“However, given the public nature of the allegations and the importance of upholding confidence in the Australian Public Service, it is in the public interest that the overarching breach findings and the recommended sanction are made available in this case,’’ the statement continued.
“No further information regarding the contents of the Inquiry will be provided by the Australian Public Service Commission.”
Bombshell text messages leaked
Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo’s extraordinary private musings with a Liberal Party insider Scott Briggs included revelations that he almost “had a heart attack” about the idea of the Foreign Minister Julie Bishop becoming Liberal leader.
Mr Briggs is a businessman and the former vice-president of the NSW Liberals, and was a close confidant of former prime minister Scott Morrison.
In the messages, Mr Pezzullo mocked Ms Bishop for appearing in a fashion shoot with TV personality Kerri-Anne Kennerley.
“Sorry. She has agency and autonomy. I get it. But how does this advance the cause of strong, independent policy or business relevant women?,’’ he wrote.
He described then Defence Minister Marise Payne as “completely ineffectual” and texted: “Marise is a problem!”
The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes, who first revealed the extraordinary cache of messages, said it learned of the messages and their content via a third party who obtained lawful access to them.
Using encrypted messaging apps WhatsApp and Signal, Mr Pezzullo unloaded on politicians he didn’t like including the former Attorney-General George Brandis who did not agree with Pezzullo’s plan to form a super-portfolio of Home Affairs.
News.com.au has texted Mr Pezzullo for comment. He did not respond.
In a statement, the Department of Home Affairs said it had “long standing policies in place to address Conflicts of Interest, which apply to all employees, including the Secretary.”
“The Department is committed to continued transparency and accountability in all its endeavours. Any allegations, accompanied by any relevant evidence, should be referred to the appropriate authorities,’’ it said.
News.com.au does not suggest any of the exchanges are corrupt or illegal.
Mr Briggs confirmed the discussions at the time the private messages were leaked and said the “private” relationship was always formally disclosed as required.
“I can confirm that I have had communications with Mike Pezzullo over a long period of time, commencing in 2016 and continuing through to the present. The nature of those communications were always private matters,’’ he said.
“The matters raised never related to any procurement and I made sure that my relationship with Pezzullo was always formally disclosed as required. I also complied with any direction received from DHA (Department of Home Affairs) in relation to those communications.”
Mr Pezzullo also described another female Labor politician, Kristina Keneally as looking “quite unhinged” in her challenge for the Liberal-held seat of Bennelong.
In other messages he suggested then Prime Minister should “get rid” of Christopher Pyne, and also boasted of efforts to make press freedom reforms a “dead duck” while criticising prominent journalists.
The conversations were compared with the US drama “House of Cards” by one of the nation’s leading constitutional lawyers George Williams and slammed by former Attorney-General George Brandis.
“I have never seen anything like this. I was shocked,’’ Mr Williams said.
“It left me very uneasy. Given how we expect our Westminster system to operate. It’s a pattern of conduct.”
On the eve of the 2018 Liberal Party leadership change, Mr Pezzullo advised Mr Briggs who should be the new minister.
“I don’t wish to interfere but you won’t be surprised to hear that in the event of ScoMo [Scott Morrison] getting up I would like to see Dutton come back to HA [Home Affairs],’’ he wrote in one exchange.
“No reason for him to stay on the backbench that I can see,” Pezzullo wrote at 9.40pm on the night before the leadership spill against Turnbull in August 2018.
“I agree,” Briggs responded.
In another message, he urged the appointment of right-wingers to the Home Affairs portfolio.
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“If Dutton is out, give me (Angus) Taylor or (Alan) Tudge,’’ he said.
“You need a right winger in there – people smugglers will be watching,’’ he said.
“Please feed that in [to Morrison and Turnbull],” Pezzullo advised.
