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Michael Pezzullo in front of a parliamentary committee in January.

‘Can’t be trusted’: Reckless, improper conduct should rule former top official out for life

He once headed a mega-department but his secret dealings with a lobbyist and Liberal Party powerbroker breached many rules, an inquiry has found.

  • Nick McKenzie

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Incoming Home Affairs secretary Stephanie Foster at a previous senate estimates hearing.

Stephanie Foster replaces Mike Pezzullo as new Home Affairs boss

The Albanese government has moved rapidly to replace Mike Pezzullo with a new Home Affairs boss.

  • James Massola
Michael Pezzullo was sacked as Home Affairs secretary on Monday.

Pezzullo’s fallen empire nothing to be missed

While the hawkish Pezzullo can take much credit for running Operation Sovereign Borders and other hardline border security operations, the Home Affairs empire he built and oversaw never worked as intended and has failed at critical junctures.

  • Nick McKenzie
Sacked Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo.

Failures on quarantine contract helped sink Pezzullo

The decision by the ousted Home Affairs secretary to direct a government contract to his lobbyist friend’s firm without declaring it was among the factors in his dismissal.

  • Nick McKenzie, Michael Bachelard and James Massola
Michael Pezzullo

Threats and opportunities: Home Affairs enters its post-Pezzullo era

The sprawling and troubled department that was created in Michael Pezzullo’s image is entering a new era and may need to be overhauled to focus on new priorities.

  • Matthew Knott
Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo has been stood down pending an investigation into his behaviour.

Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo sacked

Australian Public Service Commissioner, Dr Gordon de Brouwer, determined that Pezzullo had breached the public service code of conduct at least 14 times. 

  • Olivia Ireland and James Massola
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Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo: the kind of brawler the bureaucracy needs.

Government quietly changes secretary payout requirements ahead of Pezzullo findings

A new ruling signed off by the Remuneration Tribunal on Friday appears to revoke the lucrative compensation obligations owed to department secretaries if they are found to breach their code of conduct duties.

  • Lisa Visentin
Michael Pezzullo.

Government prepares for findings on senior public servant

Top bureaucrat Michael Pezzullo has been under scrutiny over his dealings with Liberal powerbroker and lobbyist Scott Briggs.

  • Nick McKenzie and James Massola
Binjun Xie is escorted to a plane after being arrested.

Immigration problems are laid bare, time for real solutions

Sustained investigative reporting has unveiled wide-reaching problems in our immigration system, the government response will be closely watched.

  • The Herald's View
Binjun Xie is escorted to a plane after being arrested.

‘Millions on planes’: Boat focus blinded Home Affairs to real abuses, says Nixon

Former top cop Christine Nixon reveals that, as rorters and criminals flooded the visa system, the authorities went missing.

  • Nick McKenzie and Michael Bachelard