Queensland's coordinator-general won't be in this Monday, or any other Monday

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Queensland coordinator-general Barry Broe is suddenly leaving the role this week, after seven years in office and just a few months before his term expires in November.

Cameron Dick, the Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, said the director-general of his department would fill the role and a recruitment process would begin soon.

The current head of the department is Rachel Hunter, although her role has been performed lately by deputy director-general Toni Power recently, as Hunter has been acting director-general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. That arrangement was supposed to end right about now, in mid-August.

“Mr Broe has advised he will not seek re-appointment to the role when his term expires in November this year,” Dick said in a statement, after confirming Broe would not be coming in on Monday.

Dick said the coordinator-general was “one of the most senior public servants” in the state as the role came with “a wide range of powers to assess and balance the pressures of economic development, environmental sustainability and social impact”.

There are give key aspects to the job: assessments and approvals of major infrastructure projects as well as “facilitation” of projects favoured by government; oversight of projects in declared “state development areas” that aim to promote economic growth; compulsory land acquisition; and administration of an act that aims to “ensure that residents of communities near large resource projects benefit from the construction and operation of those projects”.

“Mr Broe has worked diligently since his appointment in 2012 and developed a reputation for getting things done,” Dick added.

“He leaves behind a legacy of more efficient and robust project coordination and delivery across Queensland.

“His work in assisting the Queensland Government create the unique Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017 to ensure communities near large resource projects benefit from the construction and operation of these projects is particularly noteworthy.

“Its implementation so far is benefiting 269 regional communities across Queensland.”