Morrison distances government from Pezzullo 'drums of war' comment

The comments, made in Mr Pezzullo's Anzac Day message to staff, were seen a thinly veiled reference to China, and were criticised in some corners for ratcheting up the tension between Australia and China.

On 3AW radio in Melbourne, Neil Mitchell referred to language used by bureaucrats and Defence Minister Peter Dutton and asked: "Is it correct that what the head of Home Affairs had to say about the drums of war beating were in fact authorised by the Minister?"

Mr Morrison said that was "not the case," in a comment that appeared to be related to Mr Dutton's approval as Defence Minister.

Under normal protocols, it would not be up to Mr Dutton, who is no longer Mr Pezzullo's boss, to approve his Anzac Day missive.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, to whom Mr Pezzullo reports, has confirmed she had read the speech before it was uploaded to the Home Affairs website and backed her secretary when asked about the comments.

"The overarching message from government is that we need to be alert but not alarmed," Ms Andrews told Nine.

"We're obviously very conscious as a government of what is happening in the Pacific region, in particular, and we will always put Australia first, second and third."

It has been long rumoured that Mr Pezzullo craves the job as head of the Defence Department, and could follow his former minister in the Home Affairs portfolio to the high-profile department, but it is unclear how this intervention could affect a potential move.

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A keen writer and history buff, it is not unusual for Mr Pezzullo to make such addresses to staff on days of significance, but his latest missive drew attention after it was re-published in The Australian newspaper and gained traction around the world.

"In a world of perpetual tension and dread, the drums of war beat - sometimes faintly and distantly, and at other times more loudly and ever closer," Mr Pezzullo wrote in the speech.

He warned that European nations had been too slow to act against the rise of Nazism and Fascism in the 1930s in a bid to avoid a repeat of the horrors of World War I.

"Today, as free nations again hear the beating drums and watch worryingly the militarisation of issues that we had, until recent years, thought unlikely to be catalysts for war, let us continue to search unceasingly for the chance for peace while bracing again, yet again, for the curse of war," he wrote.

"By our resolve and our strength, by our preparedness of arms, and by our statecraft, let us get about reducing the likelihood of war - but not at the cost of our precious liberty.

"War might well be folly, but the greater folly is to wish away the curse by refusing to give it thought and attention, as if in so doing, war might leave us be, forgetting us perhaps."

On Thursday the Japanese Ambassador to Australia Yamagami Shingo tweeted about meeting with Mr Pezzullo, saying it was "Great to exchange candid views".

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