‘Astonishing’: texts reveal officials’ reaction to Morrison government election day boat arrival demand

Newly released messages between border force and home affairs public servants shed light on unprecedented' haste to make asylum boat interception public

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The Morrison government's demand that a boat interception be announced on election day was astonishing in form and timing" and unprecedented", according to the public servants involved.

Messages between the Australian Border Force and home affairs department officials, produced under freedom of information (FOI) laws, shed further light on the extreme haste to publish a statement before Scott Morrison confirmed the operation.