Damien Walker new director-general of Premier and Cabinet
A public servant with a long history intertwined with Labor has been announced by David Crisafulli as Queensland’s new top bureaucrat.
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South Australian public servant Damien Walker who served under the Palaszczuk government will become Queensland’s top bureaucrat as director-general of Premier and Cabinet following the termination of Labor-aligned Mike Kaiser.
The Director-General of the Premier’s office has been headed by David Mackie over the past two weeks as government changed hands.
His interim position will expire next month as Mr Walker steps up to the top role.
Mr Walker was appointed as chief executive of the Department of Premier and Cabinet under South Australian Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas in 2022, but will now move to Queensland months before the South Australian election to serve under LNP Premier David Crisafulli.
“Mr Mackie will return to his role as Public Sector Commissioner when Mr Walker commences duty after doing an outstanding job as the acting director-general of Premier and Cabinet from late October,” Mr Crisafulli said.
Mr Walker earned about $760,035 in his South Australian role.
Prior to Mr Kaiser, Queensland’s former Department of Premier and Cabinet director-general Rachel Hunter’s salary was $771,000.
Mr Walker holds a decade of public service experience in Queensland, notably as the former director-general of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning under then-Labor minister Kate Jones.
Prior to his move to South Australia, he and Ms Jones delivered the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
He was also state development head under Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The Premier has also appointed Chris Lamont, former New South Wales Small Business Commissioner, as director-general for Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business.
Mr Lamont will replace interim director-general Steven Koch who will become the deputy director-general in the Department of Trade, Employment and Training.
“The appointments of Mr Walker and Mr Lamont emphasise stability and strength of leadership are at the heart of the public service,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Both Damien and Chris bring enormous experience and dynamism to their respective portfolios and the public service will be strengthened by their appointments.
“I would like to extend my thanks to David Mackie and Steven Koch for their critical roles in leading the transition of government.”
Mr Walker will commence on December 23 and Mr Lamont on January 6.
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