The Pezzullo texts: How power really works in Canberra

One of Australia’s top-paid public servants has been accused of trying to pull the strings of senior federal politicians.

 Texts from Mike Pezzullo, the secretary of Home Affairs, to a Liberal Party powerbroker appear to show a bureaucrat who wasn’t adhering to his duty of impartiality. The messages show a senior public servant bad-mouthing ministers, attacking political decisions and attempting to influence portfolio appointments. 

Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on how Pezzullo’s secret correspondence reveals a bigger problem in the public service, which could undermine our democracy. 

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

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