The art of war talk: Pezzulloâs mixed message has some on edge Amid tensions between Canberra and Beijing, the wisdom of comments by the Home Affairs Department Secretary that the drums of war are beating is fiercely contested. Home Affairs Department secretary Michael Pezzullo says the war drums are beating. Alex Ellinghausen Save Share Departmental secretaries should be seen and not heard. Thatâs the view within some senior elements of the Morrison government after Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzulloâs extraordinary Anzac Day message to his departmentâs 15,000 staff warning that âwar drums are beatingâ and Australia needs to prepare to send its âwarriorsâ into battle.