Phil Gaetjens

Canberra’s top mandarin will investigate whether former sports minister Bridget Mc­Kenzie breached ministerial standards in her handling of a $100m sports grants program which favoured marginal seats. Scott Morrison ordered Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens to lead the probe into the scheme, spurred by a recent audit report by national […]

The Secretaries Equality and Diversity Council has announced updates to its 2019 strategies.

The former secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has been criticised over his report into two former ministers, with a push for his successor to reopen the case. Martin Parkinson was tasked with investigating Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop over their appointments to jobs connected with their former portfolios.

The role of deputy secretary for social policy at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is being offered on a non-ongoing basis, six months after the sudden departure of Lin Hatfield-Dodds. Interviews will be held on October 4 and the successful candidate will be offered the job initially for no more than 18 […]

Canberra’s new top mandarin, Phil Gaetjens, says things are looking up for federal public servants because he can tell them all what Prime Minister Scott Morrison is thinking and they can expect the PM to stay in office for the full three years.

The Prime Minister has said he expects his department to remove an “over the top” toilet sign that encourages people to choose the bathroom which “best fits” their gender identity.

The inbound secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet was always a public servant, even when working as the Treasurer’s chief of staff. That’s the final word from Peter Costello, one of the two former treasurers who employed Phil Gaetjens in their office, before his return to Treasury late last year as the departmental secretary and his latest appointment to PM&C.

The Treasury has released an Inclusion and Diversity strategy in what looks to be one of Phil Gaetjens’ final actions before he steps into his new role in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in September.

Last week’s major movements at the top of the Australian Public Service last week were followed by tributes, trepidation and congratulations, as well as a report that ASIO director-general Duncan Lewis would also retire at the end of his term.

Treasury secretary Phil Gaetjens will lead the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from September, and be replaced by the secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, Dr Steven Kennedy.