PM Transcripts

_ 4> JS~ U ALIA
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 30 AUGUST 1978
Retirement of Chairman of Public Service Board
The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced today that the
Chairman of the Public Service Board, Mr K. C. O. Shann, CBE,
had decided to retire from public office for personal and
family reasons.
Mr Shann, who is aged 60, was appointed as Chairman of the
Board in March 1977, following a distinguished diplomatic
career which included postings as Australian Ambassador in
Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, and other postings in
London and New York. From 1970 to 1974 he was a Deputy
Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Canberra.
In paying tribute to Mr Shann, Mr Fraser said " Mick Shann
has had a most illustrious career as public administrator
and senior diplomat. While I am personally sorry that the
Government is losing his services, I wish him well in
retirement."
Mr Fraser said that Mr Shann had taken over as Chairman of
the Public Service Board in a challenging time for the
Public Service. He had made a significant contributuion
towards the modernisation and greater efficiency of the
Service. During his period as Chairman, Mr Shann has been
closely involved with implementation of the report of the
Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration,
and the development of the program of staff interchanges
between the Australian Public Service and other areas of
employment, including private industry.
Mr Shann is proceeding on leave from 1 September prior to
retirement. Mr Fraser said that he expected that Cabinet
would consider the question of his replacement shortly.
Mr J. C. Taylor, a Commissioner of the Board, would act as
Chairman from 1 September while Mr Shann is on leave.