The Water Cooler: Comings and goings in the APS

A breakdown of the latest appointments in the Australian Public Service and across the public services of the states and territories.

APS Senior Executive Service

Band 1

Pamela Banerjee has been named the next assistant secretary at the Department of Education.

Analyn Vasquez is to be a branch manager at the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Band 3

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has promoted Kushla Munro to deputy secretary.

Other federal

Michael Lye is the Department of Social Services’ next Secretary

Governor-General Sam Mostyn has accepted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recommendation to appoint Michael Lye as Secretary of the Department of Social Services (DSS).

From 11 December, Mr Lye will begin his five-year appointment and take over from current Secretary Ray Griggs AO CSC, who has served in the role since 2021.

Australian Law Reform Commission to review national surrogacy laws

The Federal Government has asked the Australian Law Reform Commission (ARLC) to undertake an inquiry into the nation’s surrogacy laws, with its president, Justice Mordecai Bromberg, to lead it.

Australian surrogacy law protects the human rights of children born of surrogacy, their surrogate mothers and intended parents.

However, surrogacy arrangements can be medically, emotionally, financially and legally complex. Therefore, the review will be aimed at providing greater clarity and certainty on this legislation.

Justice Bromberg was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Australia in 2009 after a long career as a barrister at the Victorian Bar. He was elected ARLC president in July last year, but is also chair of the Advisory Board at the Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law at the University of Melbourne.

Re-establishment of the Administrative Review Council

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced the appointments of Professor Margaret Allars SC as chair and Professor Matthew Groves, Dr Graeme Innes AM and Kerry Staines as members of the re-established Administrative Review Council (ARC) for five-year terms.

They will join the standing members, comprising Administrative Review Tribunal president Justice Emilios Kyrou AO, Commonwealth Ombudsman Iain Anderson, and Australian Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd.

The ARC was originally established under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 with bipartisan support until it was discontinued by the Coalition government in 2015. Its role is to strengthen the integrity and operation of the Commonwealth administrative law system.

Professor Allars is Senior Counsel practising at the NSW Bar and a scholar of administrative law at the University of Sydney.

Professor Groves is a scholar of public law at Deakin University and has served as adviser to the chairman of the Victorian Bar, but was also a member of the former ARC for three years.

Dr Innes is the Central Queensland University chancellor, serves as the Audit and Risk Committee chair, and is an NDIA board member.

A proud descendant of the Mandananji and Walka Wakka people, Ms Staines is currently the CEO of the First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence.

Appointments to Federal Court

Eight new judges have been appointed to the Federal Court of Australia.

Half of them were funded by new provisions in the 2024-25 Budget to resolve significant backlogs in migration and protection applications, along with accelerating the resolution of native title claims.

Justice Samuel Vandongen will be at the Western Australian Registry, having served on the Court of Appeal at WA’s Supreme Court since last year.

At the Victorian Registry will be Elizabeth Bennett SC, who signed the state’s Bar Roll in 2009 and was appointed silk in 2021.

At the NSW Registry will be:

• Cameron Moore SC, who was called to the state’s Bar in 1998 and made a silk in 2011
• Nicholas Owen SC, who was called to the state’s Bar in 2004 and made a silk in 2016
• Professor James Stellios, who was called to the state’s Bar in 2013
• Houda Younan SC, who was called to the state’s Bar in 2007 and made a silk in 2020.

At the Queensland Registry will be:

• Erin Longbottom KC, who was admitted to practice in 2003 and made Queen’s Counsel in 2019
• Amelia Wheatley KC, who signed the state’s Bar Roll in 2005 and made Queen’s Counsel in 2019.

Central Australia Justice Reinvestment initiative

Following a rigorous assessment process by an independent panel, a partnership between Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation, Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation and the NT Government Community Justice Centre has been selected to deliver the Mparntwe (Alice Springs) Peacemaking Project.

The project supports community-led responses to resolving conflict and preventing crime.

The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s Justice Reinvestment in Central Australia Program, which allows communities to access funding that will aid in crime prevention, and provide community-led treatments for AOD addiction or diversionary supports for illegal drug use.

New members to serve on National Health and Medical Research Council

The Federal Government has appointed the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for the 2024-27 term.

New members are:

• Associate Professor Stephen Adelstein
• Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM
• Professor Raymond (Ray) Chan
• Professor Susan Hillier
• Adjunct Professor Darryl O’Donnell
• Professor Steve Robson
• Professor Yvette Roe.

Reappointed members:

• Professor Emily Banks AM
• Ainslie Cahill AM
• Professor Jane Gunn AO
• Professor Elizabeth Hartland AM
• Professor Richard Murray
• Professor Anushka Patel
• Bronwyn Le Grice.

Professor Caroline Homer AO will continue to lead the council, which funds high-quality health and medical research.

States and Territories

2032 Brisbane Olympic Games Review Board

The Queensland Government has appointed seven members to its Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority for the 100-Day Review of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games preparations.

Until 9 March, 2025, the board will be expected to create a comprehensive implementation plan including venues, transport infrastructure and governance for the Games.

Appointees are:

• Stephen Conry AM (chair), who has more than 40 years’ experience in executive positions in the property industry in Australia and globally
• Jess Caire (director), executive director of the Queensland Division of the Property Council of Australia
• Tony Cochrane AM (director), an experienced director and chair, working in the sporting, events and entertainment industries for more than 45 years
• Jill Davies (director), who has 28 years’ experience in securing, planning and delivering Olympic and Paralympic Games across five continents and multiple cities, including Sydney 2000
• Jamie Fitzpatrick (director), a highly respected leader in North Queensland, with more than 30 years’ experience spanning the hospitality, tourism, and events industries
• Sue Johnson (director), who has more than 20 years’ experience developing, funding, constructing, and operating complex legacy infrastructure
• Laurence Lancini AM (director), the founder and executive chairman of Lancini Property Group. He has overseen construction and property development across Queensland, including Townsville, Mackay, Cairns, Yeppoon and Brisbane.

The newly created Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority will have David Hourigan as its interim CEO, having most recently served as Chief Safety and Productivity Officer for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

New chair for Victorian Gambling And Casino Regulator

The Victorian Government has appointed Christopher O’Neill APM as the chairperson of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).

Before his role at the VGCCC, Mr O’Neill served with Victoria Police for 45 years. He was Acting Deputy Commissioner in 2016, including in the Regional Operations, Capability and Specialist Operations portfolios.

He earnt the Australian Police Medal, National Police Service Medal, National Emergency Medal, National Medal and Victoria Police Service Medal.

New committee to advise on senior Victorians’ needs

Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt has announced the inaugural members of the Senior Victorians Advisory Committee, which will provide a voice to the Victorian Government on the lived experiences of older people.

To serve for up to three years, the members are:

• Rural Health Associate Professor Sue Harrison OAM (chair), who has more than four decades of medical practice in Echuca and Swan Hill
• Brenda Appleton OAM, a trans and gender diverse communities’ leader and LGBTIQA+ rights advocate
• Dr Chukwudozie (Dozie) Ezigbalike, a former educator and geo-information specialist, and community advocate for people from new and emerging communities
• Gabrielle (Aunty Gabby) Gamble, an advocate for elders who are survivors of the Stolen Generation, and a community volunteer
• Jan Laidlaw, an advocate for older people’s access to information, services and transport, with a professional background in local government as a mayor and councillor
• Linette Harriott, a family violence and gender-equality professional and mentor for LGBTIQA+ young people
• Mariamma John, a community volunteer and supporter of seniors of all cultural backgrounds
• Van Pho, an experienced corporate professional, community worker, and supporter of seniors’ mental health.

The eight community members will be complemented by four sector members from the Council on the Ageing Victoria, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria and Switchboard.

Dr Luke Twomey to lead group considering WA’s future penguin conservation

A newly formed independent Little Penguin Advisory Group will support the WA Government’s existing conservation efforts for little penguins on Penguin Island and several other colonies throughout the state.

It will be chaired by WA Marine Science Institute CEO Dr Luke Twomey and comprise scientists, marine park coordinators and local representatives.

The group will hold its first meeting in January and report to the Director-General of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) by December 2025.

Chris Shanahan to be Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Tasmania

Tasmania’s Governor Barbara Baker has appointed Chris Shanahan SC as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, and Judge Kate Cuthbertson SC as a puisne judge.

In line with the requirements of the Supreme Court Act 1887, Justice Alan Blow AO will retire from the role of Chief Justice when Mr Shanahan begins work on 20 January.

Mr Shanahan was most recently the Acting Commissioner of the Corruption and Crime Commission of WA and a Senior Sessional Member of the State Administrative Appeal Tribunal.

Judge Cuthbertson has been a judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia since August 2024.

Tasmania appoints inaugural Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor

Tasmania Governor Barbara Baker has appointed Robert Benjamin AM SC as Tasmania’s inaugural Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor.

The establishment of a Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor was a key recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.

For the next five years, Mr Benjamin will be responsible for holding the Tasmanian Government to account by monitoring and reporting progress of the inquiry’s 191 recommendations, which he played an integral role in forming as a commissioner.

Former auditor-general to lead Homes Tasmania Review

The former NSW auditor-general Margaret Crawford PSM will lead an independent review of Homes Tasmania.

Housing Minister Felix Ellis said the review would look into how effective the agency had been since it was established almost two years ago to deliver housing, homelessness and crisis accommodation services.

The review will focus on:

• The effectiveness of the governance structures and processes of Homes Tasmania
• The capacity of these structures to provide clear direction and efficient decision-making
• The transparency and effectiveness of reporting mechanisms, including public reporting on the performance of Homes Tasmania
• The role of Homes Tasmania in delivering housing, homelessness and crisis accommodation and services to eligible persons,
• The extent to which Homes Tasmania effectively engages with relevant sectors, providers, government agencies, and potential investors or partners
• Any other matters relevant to governance, reporting and accountability of Homes Tasmania in delivering improved housing and homelessness outcomes in Tasmania.