Coalition ‘subverted democracy’ with election-day statement on asylum boat, Labor says

Home affairs minister Clare O'Neil says former government's pressuring of public servants to reveal boat arrival was unprecedented'

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The former Morrison government subverted democracy and undermined the public service and the defence force when it pressured public servants to reveal details of an asylum seeker boat on election day, home affairs minister Clare O'Neil has said.

Lambasting the former government for its disgraceful" actions, O'Neil said those involved should hang their heads in shame" and apologise for pressuring public servants and defence officials to issue the statement over the intercepted boat - an occurrence that was then used as a final-hours campaign tool.