A sacked former public servant is speaking out about his time in top roles.

Mike Pezzullo, the former secretary of Home Affairs, has come forward with a candid acknowledgment of the errors that led to his dismissal. 

In an interview on ABC’s 7.30, Pezzullo offered insights into his past actions and his perspectives on national security.

In November last year, Pezzullo's career in the public service came to an abrupt end following a scandal involving improper communications with Scott Briggs, a well-known Liberal party lobbyist. 

The incident stemmed from a series of WhatsApp messages, which were deemed to breach the standards expected of his office. 

“I made mistakes, I’ve paid a price,” Pezzullo said, acknowledging the fairness of the Australian Public Service Commission's (APSC) investigation led by Lynelle Briggs (no relation to Scott Briggs).

But Pezzullo maintained that his actions, while misjudged, did not warrant dismissal. 

“Perhaps an appropriate censure or reprimand would have been relevant or appropriate in the circumstances,” he said, expressing regret over how his service concluded.

“That’s something, obviously, that you do not want your career to end on that note.”

Throughout his career, Pezzullo often courted controversy, particularly for his hardline approach to national security and immigration. 

His tenure saw stringent measures on border protection and a pivot away from using immigration for nation-building, which significantly reshaped the department’s focus under his watch.

Pezzullo has also touched on broader security issues affecting Australia, particularly the risks in the Indo-Pacific region. 

He described the probability of conflict as “about 10 per cent”; enough to warrant serious concern and preparation. 

“We’ve got agency, we can get that number down, in fact. And you get that number down by way of good, effective diplomacy in the first instance, coupled with showing resolve,” he said.

Pezzullo says he is keen on continuing his work in national security from outside the government.