Texts reveal Morrison government demanded a vessel interception statement on election day

The office of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded staff reveal the interception of an asylum seeker boat on election day, a report has found. 

The bombshell Department of Home Affairs report found senior government officials were pressured by Mr Morrison’s staff to release a statement about the interception before the operation had finished. 

Home Affairs Department Secretary Michael Pezzullo said public servants, Australian Border Force and Defence Force members refused to release a statement to the media while the events were unfolding. 

‘The detailed chronology of events indicates there was pressure placed on officials to release a public statement regarding the interception of SIEV (illegal entry vessel) 915 prior to the conclusion of the operational activity,’ Mr Pezzullo said.

‘The pressure was exacerbated by the direction to draft and publish the statement within 15 minutes.’

The department secretary explained it was ‘for the responsible minister’ to assess the public interest in making the announcement and that the caretaker convention did not have the force of the law. 

The report found a journalist asked Mr Morrison about the interception of a vessel entering Australia from Sri Lanka despite officials refusing to share it on Border Force newsroom, social media or send it directly to journalists.  

‘The information may have made its way to the journalist separate to, and before, the ABF newsroom announcement,’ Mr Pezzullo said.

According to the report, at 11.09am on May 21 Mr Pezzullo warned the interception would create a political issue. 

‘Keep an eye out for any chatter on social media or worse, any leaks to the media,’ Mr Pezzullo said. 

‘It could become a very late election issue.’ 

‘The release once cleared is to be posted to our news and media site – no more and no less,’ Mr Pezzullo said. 

At 11:59am the Minister for Home Affairs’ office requested a statement be emailed to selected journalists and said ‘the Prime Minister wants a statement’ but Mr Pezzullo refused. 

A bombshell text message exchange with the Morrison government then ensued. 

‘Is it live? PM is speaking,’ the text message from the Minister of Home Affairs’ Office (MHAO) read.  

‘I’m refreshing,’ read a reply from the department.

‘So are we. What on earth is the issue?’ MHAO wrote. 

‘It always takes a few mins to go live – I have no idea how it works but we can’t influence it. We are calling IT,’ the department replied. 

‘A lot of people are furious,’ MHAO responded.  

‘Nothing we can do. Legitimately nothing. So my sincere apologies,’ the department wrote. 

Within half an hour, preparations were made to brief the Opposition. 

The statement was finished and loaded to the department’s website at 1pm but was not published till 1.09pm. 

 A report into the political stunt found a journalist asked Mr Morrison about the interception before an official statement was issued. Mr Morrison answered the question in his final press conference on election day: ‘I’ve been here to stop this boat’ (pictured)

Mr Morrison’s final press conference was held at 1.03pm and a journalist questioned him about the vessel three minutes later – before the statement was available on the department website. 

‘I can simply say this. I’ve been here to stop this boat, but in order for me to be there to stop those that may come from here, you need to vote Liberal and Nationals today,’ the then-prime minister said in the press conference.

It wasn’t until 2.26pm that the opposition was briefed. 

At 3.03pm the Liberal Party shared the interception via SMS and Twitter: ‘BREAKING – Aust Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Aus. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today.’

The report found officials were unaware that the Liberal Party were planning to share the interception to thousands of voters by SMS and Twitter.

‘BREAKING – Aust Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Aus. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today,’ the Liberal Party shared at 3.03pm.

Labor’s Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said it was the first time the Australian government had compromised a military-led operation. 

‘The former government had a duty to protect Australia. Instead, they sabotaged the protocols that protect Operation Sovereign Borders for political gain,’ Ms O’Neil said. 

‘Their actions undermined the integrity of this complex operation, making it more difficult and dangerous.

‘The profound compromise of a military-led operation is without precedent in Australia’s history. 

‘It was disgraceful, shameful, and characteristic of a national government which frequently pursued political interests above the national interest.’

The report headed by Home Affairs Department Secretary Michael Pezzullo (pictured, centre) revealed detailed chronology of events which indicated government officials were pressured to release an official statement

Mr Pezzullo suggested revisions into the provisions of the caretaker convention – the caretaker conventions do not detract from ministerial authority, and officials are obliged at all times to follow lawful directions. 

And sensitive information that is potentially politically significant should not be released publicly during the caretaker period unless a threat to life exists or some other urgency concerning public safety and security is involved.

The vessel of asylum seekers was intercepted near Christmas Island and later returned to Sri Lanka.