The Community and Public Sector Union is deeply concerned by reports regarding the conduct of the Secretary of the Home Affairs Department, Mike Pezzullo, labelling his position as untenable.

APS employees, including in Home Affairs, face potential disciplinary action for sharing political content on social media, yet one of the most senior public servants in the country has been apparently sharing his political wish list and hit list with a well-known political operative.

The reports also raise questions regarding the former Coalition Government’s failed attempt to privatise Australia’s visa system. 

The CPSU fought against the Morrison Government’s bid to privatise Australia’s visa system when it was first proposed in the 2016-2017 Budget, until it was dropped in 2020.

Scott Briggs led the bid and was part of the consortium who were the front runners vying for the highly lucrative contract – Australian Visa Processing Pty Ltd. 

Had the privatisation been successful, it would have handed our visa system over to private, for-profit businesses, and put over 2000 Home Affairs jobs on the chopping block. 

It is appropriate that Mr Pezzullo has stood down while an investigation takes place, however the CPSU cannot foresee a situation where his position remains tenable. 

Quotes attributable to Melissa Donnelly, CPSU National Secretary:

“APS values require all APS employees to be impartial and apolitical. After the revelations about the Secretary of Home Affairs, Mike Pezzullo, it is hard to see how those values have been upheld."

“APS employees can face disciplinary action for sharing political content on social media, so it is astounding to learn that one of our country’s most senior public servants has been sharing a political hitlist with a known Liberal Party operative."

 “Mike Pezzullo’s position as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs is clearly untenable."

“These revelations also raise questions regarding the former Coalition Government’s failed attempt to privatise Australia’s visa system. Scott Briggs was heavily involved, leading the bid for the $1 billion visa processing tender."

“CPSU members fought tooth and nail to stop the privatisation from the moment it was first proposed in the 2016-2017 Budget, up until it was scrapped in 2020."

Media contact: Tori McGregor 0429 000 620