Queensland Health payroll 'Mr Fixit' Michael Walsh quits

THE man dubbed the "Mr Fixit" of the Queensland Health payroll bungle has resigned in what unions see as a blow to the plan to repair the troubled system.

THE man dubbed the "Mr Fixit" of the Queensland Health payroll bungle has resigned.

In what unions see as a blow to the $209 million plan to repair the troubled system, Queensland Health deputy director-general Michael Walsh will leave the department at the end of next month to take up a position in the private sector.

His departure follows the resignation of Queensland Health's payroll and establishment services director, Alan McGraw, in October.

Mr Walsh, who has worked for the Queensland Government for more than 15 years across several departments, yesterday cited surviving the payroll crisis as one of his achievements while working in health.

He said he was also proud of moving the payroll issue out of a "crisis environment" since taking on the challenge of fixing the debacle some eight months ago.

Mr Walsh said he felt "comfortable" about leaving after the release last month of the Ernst and Young report which provided a blueprint for making the system more efficient.

"What we've got is a . . . much better system than what it was back in April," he said.

The 50-year-old will be replaced by senior Canberra-based bureaucrat John Cairns.

Mr Cairns will leave his position as the first assistant secretary of the ministerial support unit with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to join Queensland Health.

"I'm confident that he will be able to continue the momentum of . . . improving the pay system," Mr Walsh said.

Queensland Nurses Union assistant secretary Beth Mohle said she was extremely disappointed Mr Walsh was leaving Queensland Health, given the contribution he had made towards rectifying an "unprecedented and difficult set of circumstances".

"Michael did not contribute in any way, shape or form to the pay debacle actually occurring," she said.

"He was brought in to focus on finding solutions.

"His contribution to continue to move forward with implementing the system in the way that it should have been in the first place is going to be sorely missed.

"He kept his head.

"That's a very rare attribute, someone who can actually keep their head in a crisis and stay focused."

Mr Walsh, a former teacher and psychologist, said he been looking for another career challenge before the payroll crisis.