PRIME MINISTER 22/ 95
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY
The Government has decided to recommend to the Governor-General in Executive
Council the appointment of Mr Ron McLeod AM, Deputy Secretary in the Department of
Defence, as the next Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security. It is proposed that
the appointment will take effect on 6 April 1995. The Leader of the Opposition has been
consulted on the proposed appointment.
Mr McLeod has had a long and distinguished public service career. He has served the
Government in a number of senior positions, including most recently as Deputy Secretary,
Budget and Management in the Department of Defence and, during 1994, as Chairman of
the Review Group which reported on possible changes to the Public Service Act.
The office of Inspector-General was set up by the Government in 1986 following the
second Hope Royal Commission into Australia's security and intelligence agencies to
ensure that the agencies act with legality and propriety. It occupies a central place in the
arrangements for the accountability of Australia's security and intelligence agencies. The
office is a demanding one requiring the highest standards of ability. I am confident that
Mr McLeod's skills and experience make him well suited to the task.
Mr McLeod succeeds Mr Roger Holdich AM, who has almost completed two terms as
Inspector-General. Mr Holdich has decided to resign his appointment some six months
early in order to give his successor time to settle in before he is required to put into effect
whatever changes the Government decides upon as a result of any recommendations
concerning the office of Inspector-General that may arise from the Commission of Inquiry
into AS IS.
Mr Holdich has had a long career of public service, including in my department, the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Public Service Commission. As
Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security since 1959 Mr Hold ich has served the
Government with distinction and integrity and has made a particular contribution to the
further development of arrangements for accountability in the intelligence community. I
wish him well in his retirement.
CANBERRA 21 MARCH 1995
Keating, Paul
Period of Service: 20/12/1991 - 11/03/1996
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Release Date:
20/03/1995
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
9519
Document:
00009519.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Keating, Paul John
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY
9519