Fed: Biggest bureaucratic shakeup in six years announced

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2001
Fed: Biggest bureaucratic shakeup in six years announced

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry head MARK PATERSON will take the reins
of the revamped Department of Industry in what Labor says is a jobs-for-the-boys deal.

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has announced a major reshuffle of senior bureaucrats, the
biggest upheaval in public service ranks since the HOWARD government came to power in
1996.

Seven of the 18 top positions will change hands, with three newcomers moving into departmental
secretary roles, although Mr PATERSON is the only appointee from outside the public service.

Mr HOWARD says Mr PATERSON will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position.

But opposition industry spokesman CRAIG EMERSON says the business community will see
the irony of appointing a strong advocate of the GST to oversee a department which has
responsibility for small business.

He says that at a time when the prime minister is claiming Labor is too close to the
union movement, he has appointed his own blue-chip business representative as head of
the department.

AAP RTV kmh/daw/aa/jh

KEYWORD: BUREAUCRATS (CANBERRA)

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