Scott Morrison rang home affairs minister to reveal asylum boat interception on election day

Former prime minister personally called Karen Andrews on election day to insist she reveal the Sri Lankan vessel interception.

Scott Morrison personally rang former home affairs minister Karen Andrews on election day, ordering her to put out a statement about the interception of a Sri Lanka asylum seeker boat.

Just before noon on May 21, after the government was alerted about the boat on Saturday morning, Mr Morrison contacted Ms Andrews and asked her to release a statement from Operation Sovereign Borders and for the opposition to be briefed.

The Australian understands that Ms Andrews, who did not know that Mr Morrison had sworn himself in as joint home affairs minister, supported a generic apolitical statement from OSB and the department be released.

Senior Liberal sources said the former home affairs minister’s approach was focused on transparency and deterrence rather than using the event for political gain.

It is understood Ms Andrews was unaware of discussions that took place in the Prime Minister’s Office about other matters, including sending out text messages to voters’ hours before the booths closed.

At a 1pm press conference held on election day by Mr Morrison at Lilli Pilli, in his southern Sydney electorate of Cook, the former prime minister confirmed that “there has been an interception of a vessel en route to Australia”.

“I can simply say this. I’ve been here to stop this boat. But in order for me to be there to stop those that may come from here, you need to vote Liberal and Nationals today. And in the interests of full transparency, in the middle of an election campaign, the Labor Party was advised of this and a statement is being issued by the Border Protection authorities.”

Shortly after the press conference at 1.09pm, Australian Border Force published a statement about the boat interception. The opposition was briefed at 2.26pm following the release of the statement.

In a review conducted by the Albanese government and led by Home Affairs Department secretary Mike Pezzullo, it revealed that Mr Morrison’s chief-of-staff John Kunkel had phoned Mr Pezzullo at 12.17pm to ask him to facilitate the release of information and the opposition briefing.

At 12.48pm, the review said Mr Pezzullo directed the department to not “drop the story to selected journalists”.

Ms Andrews later held a press conference on the Gold Coast to discuss local election issues and the Sri Lankan boat intercept.

The Liberal Party text message sent out to voters said “BREAKING – Aust Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Aus. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today”.