New Commowealth Department Appointments

The Prime Minister today announced a number of new appointments for departmental secretaries and senior statutory office-holders that will take effect in the near future.

The changes are as follows:

  • Ms Helen Williams AO, Secretary of the Department of Human Services intends to retire from the Australian Public Service (APS).
  • The position of Secretary of the Department of Human Services will be filled by Mr Finn Pratt PSM, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Centrelink.
  • Centrelink’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Customer Service, Ms Carolyn Hogg, will act as Chief Executive Officer pending the appointment of Mr Pratt’s successor.
  • Mr Nick Warner PSM, the current Secretary of the Department of Defence, will be recommended as Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS).
  • Dr Ian Watt AO, currently the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation, will become the Secretary of the Department of Defence.
  • Mr David Tune PSM will become the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation.
  • Ms Patricia Scott, current Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, will be recommended as a full time Commissioner in the Productivity Commission.
  • Mr Peter Harris, currently the currently the Secretary of the Victorian Department of Sustainability and the Environment will become the Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.
  • Mr Michael L’Estrange AO will be leaving the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade after more than four and a half years as Secretary of the Department.
  • Mr Dennis Richardson AO, currently Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, will become the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  • Mr Andrew Metcalfe has been reappointed as Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
  • The Public Service Commissioner, Ms Lynelle Briggs, will be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Medicare Australia.
  • Ms Philippa Godwin will take up the position of Head of the Child Support Agency at the Department of Human Services, as Deputy Secretary, Child Support and Planning.

The following is a full updated list of Departmental Secretaries.

Departmental Secretary
Department
Mark Paterson
Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
John Pierce
Resources, Energy and Tourism
Peter Harris
Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Lisa Paul
Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Martin Parkinson
Climate Change
Conall O’Connell
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Roger Wilkins
Attorney General
Ian Watt
Defence
Jeff Harmer
Families, Housing, Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs
David Tune
Finance and Deregulation
Dennis Richardson
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Jane Halton
Health and Ageing
Finn Pratt
Human Services
Andrew Metcalfe
Immigration and Citizenship
Terry Moran
Prime Minister and Cabinet
Michael Taylor
Infrastructure, Transport, and Regional Development
and Local Government
Ken Henry
Treasury

 

All Departmental Secretary appointments are for five years. The Prime Minister’s media release is available here

In conjunction with the above announcement made by the Prime Minister, the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet announced several moves within senior ranks of the public service. The changes are detailed in the media release available here