A ‘sick joke’: Choice of Qld’s new top bureaucrat slammed

Mike Kaiser’s appointment as Queensland’s top public servant has been blasted by the LNP, arguing his appointment will hurt democracy.

Mike Kaiser’s appointment as Queensland’s top public servant has been labelled a “sick joke” by the LNP, which argues his appointment will hurt democracy.

Premier Steven Miles will appoint Mr Kaiser Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, replacing Annastacia Palaszczuk’s appointment, Rachel Hunter.

Opposition Integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson raised concerns with Mr Kaiser – a former Labor MP, Labor state secretary and “self-confessed vote rorter” – now in charge of the apolitical public service.

“To put someone with these blatant ties to Labor and a history of vote rorting is a sick joke and is a terrible tone to set for Public Servants,” she said.

“This appointment, in the shadows of an election year, will have a chilling effect on our democracy.”

LNP MP Fiona Simpson at Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Mr Kaiser resigned from the Queensland parliament in 2001 after admitting to electoral fraud in the 1980s. He was not charged with any criminal wrong-doing.

He rejoined the Queensland government in 2007, serving as Premier Anna Bligh’s chief of staff before quitting for the private sector.

He again returned in 2020 to lead the Department of Natural Resources and Mines before joining Mr Miles’ department in April 2022.

Ms Simpson said Peter Coaldrake’s 2022 integrity review spoke about the “importance of an independent Public Service” and said his appointment could hinder the Opposition’s efforts in holding the government to account.

Mike Kaiser will become the Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet under Steven Miles. Picture: Liam Kidston

“A former Labor MP, Labor State Secretary and Labor campaign director will be in charge of the resourcing of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and maintain final approval over much of the messaging of the Opposition,” she said.

“Steven Miles is the unelected Premier because of a secret backroom deal with union bosses and now is attempting to politicise the public service.”

Mr Miles on Sunday denied Mr Kaiser’s appointment would politicise the public service.

“I think if you survey opinion, public service and the Queensland business sector, they will say that Mike Kaiser will be an excellent director-general in DPC,” he said.

“Others might want to disparage him but I think if you talk to engaged observers they will tell you that he’s doing a good job and that he’ll do a great job.

“He has proven himself in his role, both as director-general of resources and then as my director general in state development.”