The secretary of the Division of Overseas Affairs and Commerce, Kathryn Campbell, has been changed in a shake-up of federal departmental heads introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The brand new secretary will likely be Jan Adams, who’s presently ambassador to Japan and has beforehand served as ambassador to China. She was Australia’s ambassador for local weather change when the now overseas minister, Penny Wong, was local weather change minister within the Rudd authorities.
Within the adjustments the federal government has introduced in two folks from exterior the federal service. Three of the 4 new secretaries are ladies. When Scott Morrison sacked 5 secretaries in 2019, three had been ladies.
The elimination of Campbell has been extensively anticipated. Earlier than the election Wong questioned her sharply at Senate estimates. Campbell has been DFAT secretary lower than a 12 months. Previously she served as secretary of the departments of social companies and human companies, and was embroiled within the Robodebt catastrophe.
Albanese mentioned Campbell would “be taking on a senior appointment within the Defence portfolio in an AUKUS-related position”.
Within the adjustments, Jenny Wilkinson, a deputy secretary at Treasury, will turn into head of the Finance Division. She is a former head of the Parliamentary Finances Workplace. Wilkinson replaces Rosemary Huxtable, who had indicated for a while she meant to retire.
The brand new Division of Local weather Change, Vitality, the Atmosphere and Water will likely be headed by David Fredericks, who shifts from his current place as secretary of the Division of Business, Science and Sources.
Natalie James, a accomplice at Deloitte Australia, turns into secretary of the Division of Employment and Office Relations. She has had large expertise in public service and office relations, together with being the Honest Work Ombudsman for the Commonwealth.
Jim Betts, who has labored within the NSW and Victorian public companies, turns into secretary of the Division of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Growth, Communications and the Arts. He replaces Simon Atkinson, who was regarded by Labor as too near the Coalition. Atkinson served as a ministerial adviser from 2013-16 and cupboard secretary from 2017-18.
In a farewell message to workers after the announcement Atkinson mentioned: “It’s vital that the secretary is the suitable match to steer and supply recommendation and maintain the division properly linked to ministers.”
The appointment of Gordon de Brouwer as secretary for public sector reform, in a return to the general public service, is additional proof of Albanese’s dedication to re-invigorate the forms. De Brouwer will report back to the minister for the general public service, Katy Gallagher.
After the election Albanese appointed Glyn Davis as head of the Division of the Prime Minister and Cupboard. A part of Davis’s temporary is to drive change within the service, which has been run down beneath the Coalition authorities.
Labor is dedicated to reducing the usage of exterior consultants, which decreased the position and functionality of the general public service. Each Davis and de Brouwer had been members of the Thodey overview of the service – the previous authorities refused to take up lots of its main suggestions that may have made the senior ranges of the service extra impartial.
Albanese mentioned a brand new secretary of the Business Division could be introduced quickly.
Michelle Grattan doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that may profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their tutorial appointment.
