A7~ h
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 2 JUNE 1988
The. Government is proposing to recommend to the
Governor-General the following appointments:
Following the retirement at the end of the first week of
July of Dr Harris from the post of Secretary, Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade ( already announced),
Mr R A Woolcott AO, will be appointed to that post.
Mr Woolcott has had extensive experience in the foreign
policy field, holding a number of senior appointments in
that portfolio including in recent years as Australian
Ambassador to the New York.
Mr G C Evans as Secretary, Department of Transport and
Communications. Mr Evans is currently Secretary,
Department of Primary Industries and Energy, and was
previously Secretary, Department of Resources and Energy
and has had extensive experience in the foreign policy
and economic policy fields.
Mr G L Miller as Secretary, Department of Primary
Industries and Energy. Hr Miller is an Associate
Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
and was previously Secretary, Department of Primary
Industry. He has had a long and meritorious career in
the primary industries area.
Mr A J Ayers AO, as Secretary, Department of Defence.
Mr Ayers is currently Secretary, Department of Community
Services and Health-and before that was Secretary,
Department of Social Security for several years.
Mr Ayers has already had a long and distinguished period
at the most senior levels in the Public Service.
Mr S A Hamilton as Secretary, Department of Community
Services and Health. Mr Hamilton is a Deputy Secretary
in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and
was formerly a Deputy Secretary in the Department of
Community Services.
The appointments of Mr Ayers and Mr Hamilton would come into
effect on 1 August 1988. The appointments of Mr Woolcott
and Mr Miller would come into effect on 1 September 1988.
The appointment of Mr Evans would come into effect on
1 October 1988: although he would be Secretary-Designate of
the Department of Transport and Communications from
1 September 1988. 0 0 G9 5 8
Mr A J Woods AO, presently Secretary, Department of Defence,
will be retiring from the Public Service. The Government
acknowledges the outstanding contribution Mr Woods has made
over a long career in the public Service, including for many
years at the Departmental Secretary level.
Dr P S Wilenski AO, presently Secretary of the Department of
Transport and Communications, is to be appointed as
Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United
Nations, New York. He remains Secretary of the Department
of Transport and Communications until 30 September and,
following pre-posting consultations and leave, will take up
his new appointment in January 1989.
Mr M J Cook, presently Director-General of the Office of
National Assessments, is to be re-appointed to that position
for a five-year term at the end of his present term in early
July.