Don't Tell the Prime Minister

Patrick Weller

The ‘children overboard’ affair formed a dramatic backdrop to the November 2001 federal election, graphically underlining the government’s case against asylum seekers. But very soon truth of the incident began to emerge, revealing a tale of mixed messages, conflicting responsibilities, and pre-election pressure.

In a vivid account of the events and their aftermath, Patrick Weller, an expert witness at the Senate hearings on the affair, shows how a politicised senior public service failed to handle this highly charged issue effectively. He argues that reforms are needed to restore bureaucratic accountability and confidence in the independence of the public service.