The Capital Water Cooler: Comings, goings, and consultations

A breakdown of the latest appointments and open consultations in the Australian Public Service and across the ACT public sector.

APS Senior Executive Service

Band 1

The Productivity Commission has taken on Sarah Leary from the Attorney-General’s Department to become an assistant commissioner.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has promoted Christina Raymond to general counsel of legal advice and legislation.

Finance has lost Rachel Figurski to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

Band 3

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s new chief operating officer is Angela Barrett, who was most recently at Treasury.

Other federal

Independent administrator for CFMEU appointed

Fair Work Commission general manager Murray Furlong has asked the Federal Court to approve a scheme for the appointment of Mark Irving KC as administrator for the Construction and General Division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

The proposed scheme of administration covers the divisional executive and offices in the Victoria-Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australian divisional branches. The remaining divisional branches in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory would continue to function as usual but could be brought under the scheme at a later date on application to the court.

Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM is the next Auditor-General of Australia

The Prime Minister’s recommendation for Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM to be appointed as Auditor-General for Australia has been accepted by the Governor-General.

Supported by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), the Auditor-General is an independent officer of the Australian Parliament and is responsible for auditing Commonwealth entities – playing an important role in upholding accountability and transparency.

Dr McLiesh will begin her decade-long term on 4 November, bringing more than 25 years of experience across government, international, not-for-profit and commercial sectors.

In 2017, she was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to social impact investment policy and reform in NSW.

Pressure’s on for Julie Collins as she takes on new ministry

Member for Franklin Julie Collins is facing big expectations from her home state after being given the Commonwealth portfolio of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Along with her ministry of Small Business, the Labor MP is taking charge of a sector Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff believes “holds the pen on some of the most critically important industries to Tasmania’s economic prosperity”.

Appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Eighteen new members, four of whom are senior, have joined the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

The AAT reviews decisions made by Australian Government ministers, departments and agencies and, in limited circumstances, by state government and non-government bodies.

The new senior members are:

• Alison Clues
• Glen Cranwell
• Geoffrey McCarthy
• Kim Rosser.

The 14 other new members are:

• Fiona Brady
• Elim Chan
• Clair Duffy
• Sally Gooch
• Michael Judd
• Anita King
• Jennifer Lock
• Dr Jennifer Maclean
• Louise McDonald
• Sharon Sangha
• Olympia Sarrinikolaou
• Andrew Shelley
• David Stevens
• Mersina Stratos.

Jordan Hatch joins Services Australia

After 18 months on secondment to the Department of Finance, regulatory reform expert Jordan Hatch is joining Services Australia as a general manager of Customer and Staff Digital Programs.

After working on the myGov User Audit in 2022, Mr Hatch took on a role with Finance, first as Assistant Secretary of Regulatory Technology and Innovation, with Regulatory Reform included later.

There he led a team that refreshed the regulatory reform in the 2023-24 MYEFO, delivered on a digital statutory declarations capability in myGov and a wide range of issues with DISR and the DTA.

Alliance for Gambling Reform takes on new CEO

Martin Thomas has been appointed as the next chief executive officer (CEO) of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, for which he has been working in an interim capacity over the past few months.

The alliance is a national advocacy organisation that represents more than 60 entities and works to prevent and minimise the harm from gambling.

Mr Thomas has more than 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, previously working with World Vision Australia, Mission Australia, UNICEF Australia and then as CEO of Habitat for Humanity Australia.

ARLC takes in new part-time Commissioner and 12 new judges get on Federal and Family Court

Tony McAvoy SC has been appointed a part-time commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ARLC).

There he will co-lead its inquiry into the future acts regime within the Native Title Act 1993, alongside ARLC president, Justice Mordecai Bromberg. The inquiry aims to rectify any inequality, unfairness or weaknesses in the future acts regime, which governs how development projects occur in areas subject to native title.

Meanwhile, at Division 1 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, three new judges have joined.

The Parramatta Registry will take on Mark Anderson, as Dr Juliet Behrens and Judge Elizabeth Boyle become involved with the Sydney Registry.

Nine new judges have joined Division 2, which will increase the court’s capacity to hear protection visa and migration cases.

In the 2023-24 MYEFO context, the government announced a $160 million package of reforms to restore integrity to Australia’s refugee protection system. The package responded to the findings of the Nixon Report, that processing delays were ‘’motivating bad actors to take advantage by lodging increasing numbers of non-genuine applications for protection’’.

Joining the court across its Brisbane, Sydney, Parramatta, Melbourne and Adelaide registries are:

• Philip Corbett KC
• Amanda Coulthard
• Kate Cuthbertson SC
• Arran Gerrard
• Val Gostencnik
• Sheila Kaur
• Bernard McCabe
• Peter Papadopoulos
• Rania Skaros.

ASIC signs MoU with Vietnamese counterpart

On 2 August, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) signed its first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Securities Commission (SSC) of Vietnam in Sydney. The aim is to support information-sharing arrangements under a formalised capacity-building program supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The MoU was signed by ASIC chair Joe Longo and SSC chairwoman Madam Vu Thi Chan Phuong and witnessed by senior Vietnam Government officials.

The program is focused on strengthening technical cooperation in the regulation and supervision of securities markets, information sharing, and other areas of mutual interest supporting fair, orderly and transparent markets.

Open for consultation

Eligibility requirements for tax practitioner registration

The Federal Government has released a consultation paper reviewing the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) registration requirements for tax practitioners, following the revelations of the PwC scandal. The paper focuses on the education, qualification and experience requirements for new entrants and existing practitioners. Feedback from the public is open until 7 August.

Reforming mergers and acquisitions draft legislation

The Federal Government is calling for submissions on draft legislation reforming Australia’s merger approval system to make it faster, stronger, simpler, more targeted and transparent. The legislation will take effect at the beginning of 2026, subject to its passage through Parliament. Feedback is open until 13 August.

ACCC proposes to allow collaboration in the cash-in-transit industry

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation with conditions to the Australian Banking Association (ABA), its member banks and other industry participants to facilitate business continuity planning in the cash-in-transit industry.

The ACCC’s draft determination also proposes to allow the parties to implement business continuity measures in the event of, or in reasonable anticipation of, a suspension, disruption or exit of Armaguard’s cash-in-transit services. Submissions will be accepted until 14 August.

Community views invited on Lake Burley Griffin floating saunas

The National Capital Authority (NCA) is inviting community feedback on the proposed design of the floating saunas on Lake Burley Griffin near Yarralumla Beach. A works approval application detailing the proposed location, design and materials to be used to build the saunas has been submitted to the NCA for assessment. Submissions are open until 23 August.

Draft guidance for lead replacements in plumbing products, lead and manganese

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is inviting feedback on guidance material developed for the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines on lead replacements in plumbing products, lead and manganese. Feedback can be submitted until 6 September.

For information on all the ACT Government projects open for consultation, follow the link below:

• Australian Capital Territory

Original Article published by James Day on PS News.