PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 28 September 1989
The Government has appointed Mr Roger Holdich as
Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security for a
period of three years.
Under legislation enacted by my Government following
the recommendations of Mr Justice Hope, the
Inspector-General occupies a pivotal position in
ensuring the accountability of Australia's security and
intelligence agencies; for example, he is able to
conduct inquiries as a result of complaints from members
of the public, at the request of a Minister or at his
own initiative.
Mr Holdich, aged 55, is currently Deputy Public Service
Commissioner. He has served the Government in a number
of senior positions and, in 1986, conducted a major
review of Australia's counter-terrorism capabilities and
arrangements. A more detailed resume is attached.
Mr Holdich succeeds Mr Neil Mclnnes, who was
Inspector-General for three years, and the first person
to hold this position. He has played an important role
in establishing the position as part of the Government's
accountability mechanisms. 207% 9
ROGER HOLDICH: CURRICULUM VITAE
Roger Holdich has worked for the Australian Government
since 1952, in the Departments of Trade ( 8 years), Foreign
Affairs ( 16 years), the Prime Minister and Cabinet ( 7
years), the Special Minister of State ( 4 years) and
Administrative Services. He has served overseas in
Pakistan, Thailand, Italy, Malaysia and the Republic of
Korea, where he was Australian Ambassador.
From 1976 to 1983 he was responsible for providing advice
to the Prime Minister on foreign and defence policy and
intelligence and security matters. He joined the
Department of the Special Minister of State as Deputy
Secretary in May 1983. As the only Deputy Secretary of
that Department he covered the full range of departmental
activities. He was leader of the Commonwealth Delegation
to the major National/ State body for the coordination of
counter-terrorism arrangements in Australia, and in 1986
he conducted a major review of Australia's counterterrorism
capabilities and arrangements which was
subsequently accepted by the Commonwealth and all
State/ Territory Governments.
With the machinery of government changes in mid-1987, he
became Deputy Secretary of the Department of
Administrative Services. He was appointed Deputy Public
Service Commissioner in 1988.
He has a Bachelor of Arts ( Honours) degree from Adelaide
University and has attended the Royal College of Defence
Studies course in London. He was awarded a Senior
Executive Service Fellowship in 1987 and attended the
summer course for Senior Managers in Government at the
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
He is a member of Editorial Advisory Board for the
Documents on Australian Foreign Policy series.
He acted as Secretary to the Department of the Special
Minister of State on many occasions, totalling 40 weeks.
He acted as Secretary to the Department of Administrative
Services for three weeks.
Date of Birth: 26 August 1934
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