Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), Darren Foster (pictured) is to take personal leave, effective immediately, the Premier has announced.
Premier Mark McGowan said that from Monday (30 March) Director General of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Rebecca Brown, will be appointed Acting Director General, DPC, replacing Mr Foster.
Deputy Director General of DPC, Emily Roper will act in the role this week.
In other changes announced by the Premier, Public Sector Commissioner, Sharyn O’Neill, together with the Police Commissioner are to take a leading role in the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as Public Sector Coordinator.
Mr McGowan said the move fitted more broadly with the Commission’s responsibilities for public sector management.
“I want to recognise Mr Foster’s enormous contribution over the past three years and thank him for his service to Western Australia,” Mr McGowan said.
“Mr Foster is taking some personal leave and will return to the public sector in due course,” he said.
“I have asked him to consider taking on an important role in economic recovery, linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Premier said Western Australia was facing unprecedented challenges and the immediate challenge was to minimise the spread of the virus and support the economy.
“We also need to look beyond the crisis and prepare for the significant recovery that will be needed to get our State and our economy back into gear,” Mr McGowan said.
Meanwhile, Treasurer, Ben Wyatt said he would stay on beyond the next election, reversing a previous decision.
Mr Wyatt said the COVID-19 pandemic had caused him to reflect on his decision last month not to stand as a candidate at the 2021 election.
“The world has changed dramatically in just one month,” Mr Wyatt said.
“I know the recovery is going to be a significant task, one of which I am determined to be a part of,” he said.
“I want to serve my State in its time of need and for this reason I will no longer be stepping down at the next election.”
