In one of Canberra’s dress circle suburbs, neighbours have dubbed Michael Pezzullo’s home “Southfork”, its imposing facade – even down to the white columns – evoking the Ewing ranch from hit TV series Dallas.

And just as J.R. schemed his way through the show, this week the curtain has been lifted on how Pezzullo, the benched secretary of the Home Affairs Department, was exposed for his behind-the-scenes manipulation of political events.