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Mike Pezzullo

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Michael Pezzullo, is a former Australian public servant who served as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, from 2017 until 2023.[1] Previous to this role he had been the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and before that, the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.[2] His role as Secretary of Home Affairs, and employment in the Australian Public Service, was terminated following a review which found he had breached the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct at least 14 times.[3] He was also found to have engaged in "gossip and disrespectful critique" of ministers.[4]

Mike Pezzullo
Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs
In office
20 December 2017 – 27 November 2023
Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
In office
13 October 2014 – 19 December 2017
Personal details
Born1964 or 1965 (age 59–60)
St George, Southern Sydney
NationalityAustralian
SpouseLynne Pezzullo
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
OccupationPublic servant

Early life and education

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A child of Italian immigrants from Campania in Southern Italy, Pezzullo was born and raised in the suburbs of St George, Sydney.[5][6] In an interview for the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Pezzullo said his childhood was "very boring", dominated by "a lot of reading of about things like Australia's involvement in the wars, the post-war reconstruction period."[7] He attended Marist College Kogarah, playing Rugby League.[7] With hopes of an academic career on the history of warfare and strategy, Pezzullo completed a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) in History at the University of Sydney.[8][6] His supervisor and mentor, R. J. B. Bosworth, advised him to pursue a graduate position with Defence as academia would be "limiting."[5]

Career

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Pezzullo joined the Department of Defence as a graduate in 1987.[9] After five years in the Defence department, Pezzullo discovered "the experience, age and, to some extent, ideological and almost philosophical gap between [him] and the next level up meant [he] would not advance until [he] became crusty, old and cynical,"[10] so in 1992 he transferred to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he worked in the International Division.

In 1993 Pezzullo joined the staff of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, whom he later described as a friend.[7] He remained in Parliament House until December 2001, including as deputy chief of staff to then opposition leader Kim Beazley.[11] In February 2002, he rejoined the Department of Defence and, in 2006, was promoted to the position of Deputy Secretary Strategy in that department.[12] Between February 2008 and May 2009 he led the Defence White Paper team and was principal author of the 2009 Defence White Paper.[8][13]

In July 2009 Pezzullo joined the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service as chief operating officer, a role which he continued in until September 2012. He was promoted to acting chief executive over the period September 2012 to February 2013 and on 15 February 2013 was employed as the substantive CEO.[8] When appointing Pezzullo, then Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare told media that Customs required major structural change, and Pezzullo had been appointed to drive reforms.[14] In the role, Pezzullo emphasised the importance of border security not only as a security issue, but also as an economic concern.[15]

On 2 October 2014 Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that he had made Pezzullo the new Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, effective 13 October 2014, replacing Martin Bowles.[2] As immigration secretary, Pezzullo led changes in his department recasting what had been seen as traditional immigration and border security institutions and doctrines.[16]

On 5 September 2019, Pezzullo was reappointed as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs for a period of 5 years commencing on 13 October 2019.[17]

 
Mike Pezzullo joined by officials at the Five Country Ministerial, Washington DC, September 2016

In April 2021, in an Anzac Day message to staff, Pezzullo said Australia must strive to reduce the likelihood of war "but not at the cost of our precious liberty". His message had come as then Defence Minister Peter Dutton said war with China should not be discounted.[18]

Management of conflict of interest

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The Sydney Morning Herald reported that early in 2014 Pezzullo's brother, Fabio, escaped a criminal conviction after he confessed to lying to an inquiry investigating corruption at Sydney airport.[19]

Fabio Pezzullo, a former Customs officer, was fined and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond for perjuring himself before a corruption watchdog. The 42-year-old was charged after an investigation over allegations he sold prescription drugs to fellow Sydney Airport Customs officers and lied to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity. The commission was investigating several of his colleagues for drug importation and bribery. Despite being told verbally and in writing not to tell anyone of the summons, Fabio Pezzullo told his flatmate, a former Customs officer. Fabio Pezzullo's sentencing took place in June 2014.[20]

While the case was underway Michael Pezzullo was fulfilling senior executive roles in Customs and Border Protection, but had disclosed the conflict to his minister from the outset.[21] In a note to staff regarding the case he was reported to have said: "from the outset, I asked and expected to be treated as a detached family member with no official rights, interests or powers in the matter." The communique also details the processes that were implemented to manage any real or perceived conflict of interest relating to the case.[22]

WhatsApp message scandal

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On 25 September 2023 Pezzullo stood aside at the direction of then Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil pending an investigation following revelations he had made partisan interventions during the 2018 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills.[23] Pezzullo is alleged to have unduly influenced this process by communicating his leadership and ministerial preferences to Liberal Party powerbroker Scott Briggs.[23]

Code of Conduct breaches

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Then Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil referred the allegations concerning Pezzullo, including the WhatsApp message scandal, to the Australian Public Service Commissioner, Dr Gordon de Brouwer, who then set up an inquiry. Pezzullo stood aside during the investigation.[24]

The independent inquiry, led by Lynelle Briggs, determined Pezzullo had breached the Australian Public Service code of conduct at least 14 times in relation to 5 overarching allegations: (i) used his duty, power, status or authority to seek to gain a benefit or advantage for himself; (ii) engaged in gossip and disrespectful critique of Ministers and public servants; (iii) failed to maintain confidentiality of sensitive government information; (iv) failed to act apolitically in his employment; and (v) failed to disclose a conflict of interest.

The findings were announced in an official media statement from the Australian Public Service Commission, released on 27 November 2023.[25] On the same day, Pezzullo was officially sacked. Most significantly, the review had found he had "used his status to gain a benefit for himself, failing to be apolitical, and engaging in 'gossip and disrespectful critique' of ministers."[26][27] The Canberra Times described Pezullo as "disgraced".[28]

Honours and awards

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Pezzullo was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2020 Queens Birthday Honours for "distinguished service to public administration through leadership roles in the areas of national security, border control and immigration". The media note for the award advises he was Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs since 2014.[29]

In March 2024, it was reported that a process to strip Pezzullo of his AO was taking place.[30] On 26 September 2024, the Governor-General terminated Pezzullo's appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia.[31]

Personal life

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Pezzullo is married to Lynne, an economist, and together they have raised four children.[32] They are known to be keen bushwalkers, having climbed Mount Toubkal in Morocco and the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.[33][34] Having been raised Catholic, Pezzullo chose to join his wife's faith community, in the Anglican Church.[5]

References

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  1. ^ McIlroy, Tom (7 September 2017). "Mike Pezzullo a winner in public service shake-up unveiled by Malcolm Turnbull". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b Thomson, Phillip (2 October 2014). "Michael Pezzullo new Department of Immigration and Border Protection secretary". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014.
  3. ^ The Melbourne Age, 27 Nov 2023, https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/home-affairs-secretary-michael-pezzullo-removed-from-his-job-20231127-p5emyv.html
  4. ^ Remeikis, Amy (26 November 2023). "Australia politics live: PM confirms sacking of Michael Pezzullo; Labor and Greens reach agreement on Murray-Darling Basin plan". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Coade, Melissa (27 April 2021). "The Pezzullo factor: courting controversy and climbing high". The Mandarin. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b Mares, Peter (29 July 2017). "Mike Pezzullo interview: The stellar political career of a thwarted historian". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Penbroke, David; Aponte-Payne, Megan (27 July 2020). "WORK WITH PURPOSE, EPISODE 17". podcasts.apple.com. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Mr Michael Pezzullo – CEO (PDF), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2014
  9. ^ Department of Defence, Defence White Paper 2009 – Biographies, Australian Government, archived from the original on 27 March 2015
  10. ^ Thomson, Phillip (27 March 2015). "Immigration Department secretary Mike Pezzullo: 'Cult of the lifer' is corrosive". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015.
  11. ^ Thomson, Phillip (2 October 2014). "Michael Pezzullo new Department of Immigration and Border Protection secretary". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015.
  12. ^ Mr Mike Pezzullo: Deputy Secretary of the Strategy Executive, Department of Defence, archived from the original on 23 January 2012
  13. ^ Stewart, Cameron Ron; Walters, Patrick (14 April 2009). "Mike Pezzullo pushes hard China stance". The Australian. News Ltd.
  14. ^ "Mike Pezzullo confirmed as Customs CEO". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media. AAP. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015.
  15. ^ Hall, Eleanor. "Customs and Border Protection CEO Michael Pezzullo promises massive change". Australian Broadcasting Commission.
  16. ^ Kevin, Tony (22 January 2015). "Tracing the far-reaching changes in immigration and border protection". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Appointment of the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs". www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  18. ^ "'Drums of war': Home Affairs Secretary says 'precious liberty' must not be lost in a message to staff". www.abc.net.au. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  19. ^ Ralston, Nik (11 June 2014). "Customs chief's brother who lied to inquiry avoids criminal conviction". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014.
  20. ^ McKenzie, Nick; Baker, Richard; Massola, James (10 June 2014). "Brother of Customs boss to be sentenced". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014.
  21. ^ Mannheim, Markus (5 August 2014). "Michael Pezzullo: a privileged agency head and his discourteous dispute". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014.
  22. ^ Pezzullo, Michael (5 August 2014). "Managing conflicts of interest: former Customs officer Fabio Pezzullo". Archived from the original on 9 October 2014.
  23. ^ a b Karp, Paul (25 September 2023). "Home affairs department head Michael Pezzullo standing aside pending investigation over leaked texts". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  24. ^ Crowe, David; Knott, Matthew (25 September 2023). "Pezzullo stands aside, cabinet to be briefed on private messages". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  25. ^ https://www.apsc.gov.au/about-us/working-commission/who-we-are/media-releases-and-statements/media-statement-inquiry-possible-breaches-aps-code-conduct-mr-michael-pezzullo-ao [bare URL]
  26. ^ Packham, Ben (27 November 2023). "Mike Pezzullo sacked from department over leaked texts". The Australian.
  27. ^ The Melbourne Age, 27 Nov 2023, https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/home-affairs-secretary-michael-pezzullo-removed-from-his-job-20231127-p5emyv.html
  28. ^ CT, 29 Nov 2023, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8440322/stephanie-foster-to-take-over-from-disgraced-pezzullo/
  29. ^ https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2007300 [bare URL]
  30. ^ "Process underway to strip Michael Pezzullo of Order of Australia". The Canberra Times. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  31. ^ https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2024G00616/asmade/text
  32. ^ Doherty, Megan (23 September 2011). "ACT mum hikes her way to top". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  33. ^ Doherty, Megan (23 September 2011). "ACT mum hikes her way to top". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  34. ^ "From Cape to Cape: Pezzullos trek to tackle liver disease". The Canberra Times. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
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Government offices
Preceded by Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
2014–2017 		Department restructured
New title Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs
2017–2023 		Succeeded by
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