"They have had, I believe, their finest year during the course of this COVID-19 pandemic," Mr Morrison told the House of Representatives in an end-of-year address.

"Never before, and certainly in my experience in this place, and I think for many generations, have we called upon our Australian Public Service to do more in the interest of Australians than we have in this past year."

Mr Morrison said the bureaucracy had worked promptly, carefully and effectively to advise, assist, implement and deliver.

In 2020, thousands of public servants were redeployed to deal with hundreds of thousands of extra Centrelink claims, the Health Department was required to deal with the pandemic response itself, and other departments were called upon to roll out unprecedented stimulus measures.

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"The Australian Public Service have had their finest hour in so many that we can remember. And I'm deeply grateful to them," Mr Morrison said.

He didn't single out or name any secretaries, saying it was a shared commendation.

"From the quietest service to those that I would meet with on a regular basis in my office ... whether serving here in Canberra or elsewhere around the country - thank you, thank you, thank you from a grateful nation."