James Button, son of former Labor minister John Button, has written a memoir ‘‘Speechless — A Year In My Father’s Business’’ which discussed meetings with Rudd and also with other public servants in the PM&C strategy and delivery division.

Ian Watt, Secretary of PM&C and Commissioner Steve Sedgwick said they were still considering implications of the book, but thought they should immediately provide other public servants with their initial views.

‘‘Mr Button was a non-ongoing SES officer in the department from December 20908 until April 2010,’’ their statement said.‘‘Mr Button acknowledges that the public service operates within ethical codes, including respect for the ministerial office and the secrecy that allows sensitive decisions to be made with confidence.

He also states that, in one sense, any book that draws on inside information is an ethical breach although he claims that the book is justified.

‘‘We want to make clear the importance we attach to maintaining the APS’s culture of confidentiality. We do not think confidentiality ought to be sacrificed in the interests of telling an inside story about politics and/or the public service.

'‘It is a matter of regret and disappointment, in particular, that Mr Button has published details of conversations with the former prime minister. The unauthorised disclosure of such conversations is, in our view, corrosive to the relationship of trust that must exist between ministers and the APS.

‘‘Preservation of this relationship is essential in maintaining the APS’s tradition of impartiality for being apolitical and professional.

‘‘We take this opportunity to reminds all members of the importance of the institutions they serve and the need to preserve and defend those relationships of trust which so underpin our capacity to serve successive governments and the community at large.’’