One of Australia's most influential public servants, Michael Pezzullo, has been exposed as a possible political powerbroker. 

The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and 60 Minutes have unearthed a trove of encrypted messages in which Pezzullo, the Home Affairs secretary, orchestrated schemes to undermine his adversaries, promote conservative allies, and even curtail press freedom.

Pezzullo's secret endeavours involved hundreds of messages exchanged with influential Liberal Party powerbroker Scott Briggs, a lobbyist, businessman, and confidant of former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. 

Notably, Pezzullo had championed the creation of the Home Affairs department, which he subsequently led.

The messages lay bare Pezzullo's brazen efforts to wield political influence well beyond the boundaries established for senior public servants in the Westminster system. 

Despite the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct mandating apolitical behaviour and accountability, Pezzullo consistently criticised and undermined senior Coalition ministers and public servants. 

He even disparaged those he viewed as impediments to his vision of a formidable Home Affairs department.

Pezzullo's involvement in politically sensitive moments, such as the 2018 Liberal leadership spill, appears to reveal his willingness to meddle in political affairs. 

He went as far as advising the Coalition on strategies to overcome opposition from Labor and shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus on various policies.

Additionally, Pezzullo sought to muzzle journalists critical of national security reforms and his favoured ministers, pushing for media censorship measures. 

He also ridiculed the Senate estimates committee process, a critical mechanism for holding public servants accountable.

While Briggs has acknowledged his long-term communication with Pezzullo, he insisted these interactions were private matters. 

Pezzullo is reportedly declining interview requests, but the Home Affairs department issued a statement saying it is committed to transparency and accountability and urging any allegations to be referred to the appropriate authorities.

The revealed messages do not indicate corruption or illegality but rather highlight their inappropriateness for a senior public servant. 

Experts, including AJ Brown, a professor of public policy and law at Griffith University, argue that Pezzullo's conduct renders his position untenable and warrants further investigation.

Despite remaining as the head of Home Affairs after the 2022 election, Pezzullo's closeness to the previous government raises questions. 

He now reports to Minister Clare O'Neil, who has criticised the migration system under Home Affairs' purview.

In the past year, reports have also exposed Home Affairs' failures in preventing human trafficking and bribery in offshore asylum seeker processing, leading to inquiries and recommendations for reform.

The messages came to light when investigating Briggs' involvement in a billion-dollar contract tender process, though no inside information regarding the tender was found.

More details are accessible here.