Home affairs minister Clare O’Neil says former government’s pressuring of public servants to reveal boat arrival was ‘unprecedented’
“I was advised early-ish in the morning of election day that a boat had been intercepted. Later we then went down the pathway of issuing a statement. It was a statement that was very operational in its focus and I think that was the appropriate way for it to happen.”
“Australian defence force personnel and my department acted apolitically and in fact with great bravery in standing up against being asked to do something which really would have undermined the independence of the Australian public service. “The former government had a duty to protect Australia. Instead, they sabotaged the protocols that protect Operation Sovereign Borders for political gain. Their actions undermined the integrity of this complex operation, making it more difficult and dangerous.”
Pezzullo concluded that refusal indicated the public servants had acted in an “apolitical” manner and did not breach caretaker conventions.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Karen Andrews says Scott Morrison asked her to issue statement on election-day boat arrivalFormer home affairs minister Karen Andrews says Scott Morrison asked her to release information about the arrival of an asylum seeker boat on election day, but denies she pressured border authorities to release a statement:
Read more »
Morrison government pressured Home Affairs to release details on election day boat interceptionA damning report revealed the former Morrison government pressured department officials to release information about an asylum seeker boat interception on election day despite an active operation unfolding.
Read more »
Boats for votes: Morrison blamed for election day asylum seeker stuntThe former Morrison government instructed Home Affairs to publicise the interception of an asylum seeker boat on election day for political purposes, enabling the Liberal Party to sent texts to millions of people.
Read more »
Morrison government ‘placed pressure’ on Home Affairs over election-day boat interceptThe former government leaked information about a suspected asylum seeker boat to select journalists against the express advice of the Department of Home Affairs.
Read more »
Morrison government ‘placed pressure’ on Home Affairs over election-day boat interceptThe former government leaked information about a suspected asylum-seeker boat to select journalists against the express advice of the Department of Home Affairs.
Read more »
‘Disgraceful’: report reveals Morrison government pressured border force to promote election day boat arrivalLabor says action by former government ‘sabotaged’ protocols for political gain and was ‘without precedent’ in Australian history
Read more »