NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has promoted long time NSW public servant Michael Coutts-Trotter to the role of Secretary of the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.
It’s the sixth appointment as a department head for Mr Coutts-Trotter, who formerly led the Department of Education and is currently Secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice.
“I am very pleased Michael has agreed to head the Department of Premier and Cabinet at this critical time, and I am looking forward to working closely with him as we continue to build a better future for NSW,” Mr Perrottet in a statement on Thursday.
“Michael’s dedication to serving the people of NSW is something I have long admired, he will bring tremendous experience, humility and energy to what is a very important and challenging position.”
Mr Coutts-Trotter will take over from Tim Reardon as head of the state’s 400,000 public servants, displacing Department of Planning, Industry and Environment secretary Jim Betts, who had been previously been nominated for the position by former Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Mr Reardon will depart in October with plans to join the private sector.
Mr Perrottet thanked Mr Reardon for his service and also thanked Mr Betts “for his understanding in the change of direction”.
Mr Coutts-Trotter is the husband of federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek.
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Well, Mr Betts must feel pretty surprised /disappointed, and having been replaced in his previous position hopefully will be redeployed quickly.
I am impressed with his replacements capacity for “Chinese walls” or perhaps it just reinforces the reality of the two party state?
Ultimately, if he is the consummate bureaucrat, then at least the government- and perhaps the public, merely coincidentally – will be well served.
Congratulations on Micheal Coutts-Trotters appointment.
Good that’s politics doesn’t come into it when choosing the best person for the job, his previous position appointed by a Liberal coalition government I believe, I’m a Liberal voter but always believe appointments on merit and experience , no matter who you vote for.
Appointing a labor operative is a disgraceful choice and it will cost Perrottet the next State election. I am diverting my vote definitely away from the LNP.
someone once said ” keep your friends close and your enemies even closer”
This may be the tactic?