Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo has been referred to the Australian Public Service Commissioner, accused of inappropriately trying to influence the Liberal Party.

A plethora of leaked encrypted text messages revealed by Nine Newspapers on Sunday night show Mr Pezzullo using a political back channel to two former Liberal prime ministers, including to suggest which MP should become minister of his department.

The texts indicate he used Liberal powerbroker Scott Briggs to wield influence, including suggesting ministerial sackings.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has referred the matter to the public service body, she confirmed in a statement.

“I am aware of reporting regarding communications between Michael Pezzullo and Scott Briggs,” she said.

“(On Sunday night) I referred this matter to the Australian Public Service Commissioner, Dr Gordon de Brouwer.”

Texts showed Mr Pezzullo suggested now Opposition Leader Peter Dutton should become the new Home Affairs Minister the night before Scott Morrison took the PM role from Malcolm Turnbull in 2018.

According to the messages, he suggested the Liberals sack former defence minister Christopher Pyne, labelled former defence minister Marise Payne “completely ineffectual” and “a problem”, and said he “almost had a heart attack” when Julie Bishop was linked with a tilt at the prime ministership in 2018.

Others show Mr Briggs directly asking if Mr Pezzullo had any messages he wanted him to convey before a dinner with Mr Morrison and Mr Turnbull.

It is not suggested the messages show corrupt or illegal conduct but arguably that Mr Pezzullo overstepped the required impartial nature of heading a government department.

Mr Pezzullo was the first person appointed to head the Home Affairs Department when it was created in 2017.

He has held the job since, keeping the role when Labor took office in 2022.

– AAP

The post Home Affairs boss sent to commission over Liberal texts appeared first on The New Daily.