PM Transcripts

I.
PRIME MIViSTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HION PJ. KEATING MP
APPOINTMENT OF DEPARTMENT SECRETARIES
Further to my announcement on 14 May 1993 that Dr Peter Wilcnski, AO is relinquishing his
position as Secretary to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade because of treatment
required for an illness, I have recommended to His Excellency the Governor-General the
appointment of Mr Michael Costcllp as Secretary to the Dcpartmcnt of Foreign Affairs and
Trade. Mr Costello is at present the Secretary to the Department of Industrial Relations.
Before that he was a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
I shall also be recommending the appointment of Mr Peter Core, currently a Deputy
Secretary in the Department of Primary Industries and Energy, as Secretary to the
Department of Industrial Relations in place of Mr Costcllo. In addition to his
management experience as a Deputy Secretary, Mr Core will bring to the position his
experience as the former Chairman of the Management Improvement Advisory Committee, a
Service-wide committee that considers significant management issues and initiatives in
the Public Service.
These appointments will take effect on Thursday 27 May.
Dr Geoff Miller, currently Secretary to the Department of Tourism and Associate Secretary
for Agriculture in the Department of Primary Industries and Energy, is a candidate for
the position of Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.
The Government is strongly supportive of Dr Miller's candidacy and has agreed that to
enable him to spend more time enhancing Australia's prospects of having him appointed he
should be relieved of his responsibilities as Secretaqy to the Department of Tourism. He
will continue to perform his role as Associate Secretary for Agriculture in the
Department of Primary Industries and Energy.
In Dr Miller's place as Secretary to the Department of Tourism I am recommending the
appointment of Ms Helen Williams. Ms Williams was the Secretary to the Department of
Education and Youth Affairs between 1985 and 1987. She was the first woman appointed as
a Secretary of a Commonwealth Government Department. At present Ms Williams is an
Associate Secretary in my Department where she has had special responsibilities for
Commonwealth-State relations.
Because of Ms Williams' current involvement in the meeting of the Council of Australian
Governments on 8 June, her appointment will take effect on Monday 14 June.
CANBERRA 26 MAY 1993