Mike Pezzullo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Pezzullo
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Mike Pezzullo at an industry briefing, July 2023
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| Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs | |
| In office 20 December 2017 – 27 November 2023 |
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| Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection | |
| In office 13 October 2014 – 19 December 2017 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964/1965 (age 59–60) St George, Southern Sydney |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Lynne Pezzullo |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation | Public servant |
Michael Pezzullo, AO served as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, a senior role in the Australian Public Service, from 2017 until 2023. Previous to this role he had been the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and before that, the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. His role as Secretary of Home Affairs was terminated following a review which found him to have been engaging in "gossip and disrespectful critique" of ministers. Pezzullo had been described as "the 'hardest nut' in the government".
Early life and education
A child of Italian immigrants from Campania in Southern Italy, Pezzullo was born and raised in the suburbs of St George, Sydney. In an interview for the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Pezzullo said his childhood was "very boring", dominated by "a lot of reading of about things like Australia's involvement in the wards, the post-war reconstruction period." He attended Marist College Kogarah, playing Rugby League. With hopes of an academic career on the history of warfare and strategy, Pezzullo completed a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) in History at the University of Sydney. His supervisor and mentor, R. J. B. Bosworth, advised him to pursue a graduate position with Defence as academia would be "limiting."
Career
Pezzullo joined the Department of Defence as a graduate in 1987. After five years in the Defence department, Pezzullo discovered "the experience, age and, to some extent, ideological and almost philosophical gap between [him] and the next level up meant [he] would not advance until [he] became crusty, old and cynical," so in 1992 he transferred to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he worked in the International Division.
In 1993 Pezzullo joined the staff of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, whom he later describe as a friend. He remained in Parliament House until December 2001, including as deputy chief of staff to then opposition leader Kim Beazley. In February 2002, he rejoined the Department of Defence and, in 2006, was promoted to the position of Deputy Secretary Strategy in that department. Between February 2008 and May 2009 he led the Defence White Paper team and was principal author of the 2009 Defence White Paper.
In July 2009 Pezzullo joined the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service as chief operating officer, a role which he continued in until September 2012. He was promoted to acting chief executive over the period September 2012 to February 2013 and on 15 February 2013 was employed as the substantive CEO. When appointing Pezzullo, then Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare told media that Customs required major structural change, and Pezzullo had been appointed to drive reforms. In the role, Pezzullo emphasised the importance of border security not only as a security issue, but also as an economic concern.
On 2 October 2014 Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that he had made Pezzullo the new Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, effective 13 October 2014, replacing Martin Bowles. As immigration secretary, Pezzullo led changes in his department recasting what had been seen as traditional immigration and border security institutions and doctrines.
On 5 September 2019, Pezzullo was reappointed as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs for a period of 5 years commencing on 13 October 2019.
In April 2021, in an Anzac Day message to staff, Pezzullo said Australia must strive to reduce the likelihood of war "but not at the cost of our precious liberty". His message comes as Defence Minister Peter Dutton says war with China should not be discounted.
Personal life
Pezzullo is married to Lynne, an economist, and together they have raised four children. They are known to be keen bushwalkers, having climbed Mount Toubkal in Morocco and the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Having been raised Catholic, Pezzullo chose to join his wife's faith community, in the Anglican Church.
