The Deputy Prime Minister has accused the former government of risking his life in the election day decision to announce the interception of an alleged asylum-seeking ship.
Key points:
- The Department of the Interior is investigating the publicity of an ongoing operational matter
- The new government has accused the old government of using the public service for political gain
- The former prime minister will not take any action, but the officials involved will
The ABC revealed today that one of Scott Morrison’s final acts as prime minister was to order the Australian Border Force (ABF) to issue a rare statement on the Sri Lankan ship.
Shortly afterwards, Morrison discussed the matter at a press conference on election day.
The Liberal Party also sent a massive robotic text message to voters in marginal seats, urging them to support the government and its tough border policies.
Speaking after ABC revelations, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the former government’s actions on Saturday undermined border security.
“We wanted to make it a matter of policy and that’s very serious,” he said.
“It simply came to our notice then that our borders were less secure.
“It’s serious because it risked lives, endangered lives and undermined the national consensus that exists around border security.”
Sources have confirmed to the ABC that the Prime Minister’s Office made a direct request to disclose details of the sensitive ABF operation before it was completed.
Speaking after the report came out, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he believed the only reason the former government wanted the press release to be was to send the text message from your campaign.
“The Prime Minister’s Office contacted my office in the middle of Saturday and we indicated that it would be totally inappropriate for this event to be politicized,” he told ABC’s AM program.
“It’s a clear breach of concierge conventions.”
Scott Morrison instructed the Australian Border Force to issue a statement on the ship from Sri Lanka. (ABC: Avani Dias, file)
But constitutional law professor Anne Twomey said there did not appear to be any breach of the surveillance conventions.
“The reason he is not breaking the conventions themselves is that he is not making any kind of compromise that will link the opposition in the future,” he said.
“But it potentially violates the associated problems of not politicizing the public service.”
The ABC has approached former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, specifically to ask why his office asked the Australian Border Force to reveal the interception of the ship, but declined to comment.
The unusual revelation of the “water issue” operation is now under investigation by Home Secretary Mike Pezzullo, ordered this week by the new Labor government.
Professor Twomey said that although there would be no consequences for Mr. Morrison, yes there could be for the officials involved.
“For the officials involved, there may be questions about whether disciplinary action should be taken or not,” he said.
“If it is discovered that an official has violated, for example, the values of the Australian Public Service, which require them to act impartially and apolitically, especially during an election campaign.”
On Tuesday, Rear Admiral Justin Jones confirmed that the ship loaded with asylum seekers intercepted near Christmas Island on election day had been returned to Sri Lanka after proper assessments.
Posted 3 hours 3 hours ago Friday, May 27, 2022 at 4:16 AM, updated 3 hours ago Friday, May 27, 2022 at 4:24 AM