Michael Lye returns to the Department of Social Services, this time as Secretary. Photo: Health.
Senior public servant Michael Lye returns to the Department of Social Services on 11 December to this time lead it as the secretary.
Anthony Albanese announced the five-year appointment, replacing retiring secretary Ray Griggs.
“I am pleased to announce the Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Mr Michael Lye as Secretary of the Department of Social Services,” the Prime Minister said.
“Mr Lye has had an extensive career in the Australian Public Service and has a proven track record of implementing complex reforms, particularly in the area of social policy”.
The career public servant returns to Social Services – where he held senior positions from 2013 to 2019 – from the Department of Health and Aged Care.
Mr Lye has served as Deputy Secretary, Ageing and Aged Care at the Health Department since 2019.
His appointment as Secretary of the Department of Social Services follows a publicly advertised, merit-based selection process.
The transition will be a quick one, with Mr Griggs retiring on 10 December, the day before Mr Lye takes up the role.
Mr Griggs has been the secretary since 2021.
He leaves after having embraced the task of cleaning the department following the tragedy of the Robodebt debacle and the fallout of the Royal Commission into the scheme.
In a wide-spanning career, Mr Griggs has been highly respected across the public service and political spectrums and previously served as the Chief of Navy and Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
“Mr Griggs has had a long, decorated career in the public sector and Australian Defence Force, as Chief of Navy, Vice Chief of the Defence Force and the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Australians Agency,” the PM said.
“On behalf of the Australian Government, I thank Mr Griggs for his dedication, leadership and service to the Australian community.”
Mr Lye will be the first secretary for the department since 2018 not be drawn from the Defence ranks – the other besides (and before) Mr Griggs being Kathryn Campbell, who was a key figure in the rollout of the illegal Robodebt scheme.
She was recently found by an Australian Public Service Commission investigation to have breached the public service code of conduct in her handling of Robodebt.
Mr Lye joined the Department of Health in December 2019 as Deputy Secretary.
Prior to joining Health, he was the deputy secretary responsible for disability and carers policy at the Department of Social Services.
His responsibilities then included disability and carers policy and programs, the National Disability Strategy, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Disability Employment Services.
Mr Lye has a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and a Master of Social Welfare Administration and Planning, both of which are from the University of Queensland.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Riotact.
