15 February 2013
Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare today announced the appointment of Mr Michael Pezzullo as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS).
The Government has legislated to give Mr Pezzullo extensive new powers to tackle serious misconduct and corruption.
The following new powers come into force today:
- Drug and Alcohol testing;
- The power to terminate officers for serious misconduct; and
- Mandatory requirements to report serious misconduct.
Mr Pezzullo will today sign an order making it a legal, mandatory requirement for all Customs and Border Protection workers to report any suspected serious misconduct, corrupt conduct or criminal conduct.
Drug and alcohol testing will begin next month.
“Mr Pezzullo is an experienced and well-respected public servant. Customs requires major structural and cultural reform and Mr Pezzullo will drive this reform program.” Mr Clare said.
The appointment follows an extensive search and detailed consideration of candidates prepared by a selection committee comprising Mr Roger Wilkins AO, Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department; Mr Stephen Sedgwick AO, Australian Public Service Commissioner; Kathryn Campbell, Secretary, Department of Human Services; and Commissioner Tony Negus APM, Australian Federal Police.
Mr Pezzullo joined the Department of Defence as a graduate in 1987. In 2006 he was appointed Deputy Secretary Strategy responsible for strategy and planning, the policy aspects of Australian Defence Force operations and international relationships, export controls and counter-proliferation, and the Department’s ministerial support and public affairs activities. Between February 2008 and May 2009 he led the Defence White Paper team and was the principal author of the 2009 Defence White Paper.
Mr Pezzullo joined ACBPS in July 2009 as Chief Operating Officer and since that time has been responsible for corporate support, strategy, maritime security and border related intelligence and national security programs. Mr Pezzullo has been acting CEO since September 2012.
This year the Government will announce major reforms to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. These reforms will focus on improving the law enforcement capability, integrity culture and business systems of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
This work is being led by Mr Pezzullo with the support of the new Customs Reform Board that met for the first time two weeks ago. Its top priority is to provide Government with advice and recommendations on further action to aggressively target corruption, weed it out and prevent it coming back.
