The Labor government decided to publicly criticise problems with Australian-made patrol boats dispatched to the Pacific despite warnings from officials not to.
The Department of Defence cautioned the deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, not to disclose the issue, according to documents obtained by The Guardian newspaper.
“Proactive media on the current Guardian-class patrol boat exhaust cracking issue is likely to damage relationships with Pacific Partners and is not recommended by Defence. Media attention may create unwanted political and media pressure for Pacific Partners,” the document read.
“Media attention may create unwanted political and media pressure for Pacific Partners, which may then be exploited by criminal networks or malign actors.”…