New details have emerged about the controversial move to publicise an election day boat interception. 

Australia’s former federal Liberal government has been slammed for an “astonishing” election day stunt that saw the official announcement of the interception of an asylum seeker boat used as reason to re-elect the LNP. 

New documents obtained through FOI by The Canberra Times show Home Affairs assistant secretary of media and communication Sara Vrh asked whether former joint agency taskforce Operation Sovereign Borders had a precedent to issue a public statement about an operation. An unnamed public servant told her that it did not. 

“It was astonishing in form and timing,” the unnamed public servant said two days after the statement was made public. 

“It was, as you know, as directed…” Vrh replied. 

“It was unprecedented. Normally the minister announces it after the [illegal maritime arrivals] have touched down/been returned. Strict operational secrecy until then… [REDACTED] that advice was provided – by me haha,” the unnamed official continued. 

On election day, a statement of the interception went live on the Home Affairs website minutes after then-PM Scott Morrison announced it.

Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo last month published a report saying the decision to make the interception public lay with the minister at the time — Karen Andrews.

“The apolitical character of the public service was preserved in this instance by the refusal on the part of departmental officials to amplify the public statement by sending it directly to journalists and to post it on social media,” Mr Pezzullo said.

Ms Andrews has defended her actions, saying she asked for a statement to be produced at the request of prime minister Scott Morrison.