A high-ranking public servant has been sacked after an independent inquiry into his secret messages to a lobbyist and attempts to influence the government.
Michael Pezzullo was fired as the secretary of the Home Affairs department this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a brief statement.
An independent inquiry found that Pezzullo had breached the public service’s code of conduct.
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Stephanie Foster will remain as acting secretary for the department until a permanent appointment is made.
The inquiry was launched after The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes published messages Pezzullo had sent to a Liberal powerbroker in an attempt to influence policy.
He had been stood aside while the inquiry was conducted.
