Mike Kaiser set to head up Steven Miles department in Qld government

Resources Department Director-General Mike Kaiser, a Labor Party heavyweight and former MP, is tipped to replace the head of Deputy Premier Steven Miles’ department.

Director-General for the Department of Recourses Mike Kaiser pictured at estimates committee hearings, Brisbane Tuesday 10th August 2021. Picture: David Clark

Resources Department Director-General Mike Kaiser is tipped to replace the head of Deputy Premier Steven Miles’ department.

Mr Kaiser, who is a former Labor state secretary and Woodridge MP, has headed up Resources Minister Scott Stewart’s department since the end of 2020.

The potential move comes after it was revealed Damien Walker, who is the State Development, Infrastructure and Local Government and Planning Department’s Director-General, was leaving to head up the Department of Premier and Cabinet in South Australia.

A Labor source told The Courier-Mailthey would be surprised if Mr Kaiser didn’t move portfolios.

“It would be a good outcome,” they said.

Another source praised Mr Kaiser, saying he was one of the few people who “can operate between the public and private sectors with ease”.

Mr Kaiser played a central role in the state government’s Covid-19 economic recovery in 2020 and was a partner at KPMG.

He resigned from parliament in 2001 after admitting to involvement in vote-rigging in party ballots in the 1980s.

He was also former premier Anna Bligh’s chief of staff when the coal seam gas industry began growing.

Mr Walker has previously worked in senior executive roles in the South Australian Government and was also a former Director-General of the State Development, Tourism and Innovation Department in Queensland.