Australian Public Service Appointments

Yesterday Prime Minister the Hon. Julia Gillard MP announced two new Departmental Secretary appointments.

Dr Ian Watt AO has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Dr Watt is currently Secretary of the Department of Defence, having previously served in high-level public service roles as Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation, and Secretary of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2008. Dr Watt will replace retiring Secretary Mr Terry Moran AO on 5 September 2011.

Mr Duncan Lewis AO will replace Dr Watt as Secretary of the Department of Defence. Mr Lewis is currently National Security Advisor in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, having previously served as senior policy advisor in that department and as an Officer in the Australian Army for thirty years. He was awarded the Order of Australian in 2005.

The Prime Minister thanked Mr Moran for his wise counsel and support, saying “Mr Moran has been an outstanding to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet”.

The Prime Minister’s Press Release is available here.