Home Affairs Chief Dismissed for Breaching Code of Conduct

The secretary of the home affairs department, Mike Pezzullo is questioned during Senate Estimates at Parliament House on February 18, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Australian Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo has been sacked from his role after a review found he had violated the public service code of conduct at least 14 times, including using his duty to gain advantage for himself.

Mr. Pezzullo is one of Australia’s top bureaucrats, and has served in the senior role since 2017 under the centre-right Coalition and centre-left Labor governments.

He was previously secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and served four years as deputy chief of staff to then-Opposition Leader Kim Beazley in 1993.

In a short statement on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Mr. Pezzullo’s termination.

He said the action was based on a recommendation by Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister Glyn Davis and Australian Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer.

“Mr. Pezzullo fully cooperated with the inquiry,” the prime minister said. “I thank Ms. Briggs for conducting the inquiry.”

“Stephanie Foster will continue to act as Secretary of the Department until a permanent appointment is made.”

Review Details Will Not Be Made Public

The move comes after an independent inquiry led by former senior bureaucrat Lynette Briggs determined that the longtime Home Affairs Department boss had breached the government’s public service code of conduct.

This includes using his authority, status or power for personal benefit, engaging in gossip and disrespectful critique of ministers, failing to protect the confidentiality of sensitive government information,  failing to act apolitically when serving in his role, and failing to disclose a conflict of interest.

Mr. Pezzullo will miss out on a payout from his top job.

This comes only three days after the salary umpire, the Remuneration Tribunal, determined that secretaries were not entitled to a year’s salary if they were sacked for breaching the APS code of conduct.

The review will not be made available to the public as the Public Service Act limits the release of personal information that was collected during the investigation.

However, the commissioner said it is in the public interest that the overarching breach findings be made available due to “the public nature of the allegations and the importance of upholding confidence in the Australian Public Service.”

Union Welcomes Decision

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said the decision to terminate Mr. Pezzullo was an “appropriate and necessary step.”

“APS values apply, and so too should the consequences of not adhering to them,” said CPSU national secretary, Melissa Donnelly.

“Far too often we have seen everyday public servants being held to a higher standard than their bosses. Both Mike Pezzullo and Kathryn Campbell demanded a level of commitment and compliance from their workforce, that they themselves could not demonstrate.

The CPSU also said the reported conduct of Mr. Pezzullo was “incompatible with the principles of impartial and transparent service expected from public servants.”

Pezzullo Removed After Leaked Text

The Home Affairs secretary was stood down after Australian media outlets The Age and 60 Minutes reported in September that he lobbied for the appointment of a right-wing political leader to the oversee the portfolio.

Messages between Mr. Pezzullo and Liberal powerbroker Scott Briggs showed the senior bureaucrat suggested appointing a “right winger” for the home affairs minister role as “people smugglers will be watching.”

He also told Mr. Briggs who he wanted to be fired and who should oversee his department. Mr. Pezzullo also said he wanted to see Peter Dutton, the current Opposition Leader, come back to Home Affairs.