Trio of top public servants shown the door, David Rosengren named new DG
A high-ranking Queensland Health executive who earned nearly $1m in 12 months by securing a hefty golden handshake has been made the department’s Director-General.
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A high-ranking Queensland Health executive who earned nearly $1m in 12 months by securing a hefty golden handshake has been made the department’s Director-General.
The newly-elected LNP government announced Dr David Rosengren would be Queensland Health’s new Director-General after Michael Walsh was dispatched on Friday afternoon.
Dr Rosengren, as reported by the Courier-Mail last month, secured a staggering $352,000 payout from Queensland Health despite leaving on his own accord then starting a new job in the public health system three weeks later.
The enormous golden handshake secured by former Queensland Health chief operating officer Dr Rosengren, on top of his salaries at the department and a new job at Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service means he earned a taxpayer funded salary of $956,000 in 2023-24.
This puts him in the top 10 earning public servants in Queensland, with a salary higher than those of the heads of Queensland Rail, power company Stanwell, and Queensland Investment Corporation.
There is no suggestion of any improper conduct on the part of Dr Rosengren, or that he was not entitled to the payout under his employment contract.
The appointment comes as top bureaucrats across Justice, Health and Treasury have been sacked by the new government.
Department of Justice and Attorney-General Jasmina Joldic, previous Health Director-General Michael Walsh, and Under Treasurer Michael Carey have been bundled out of office by the newly-elected LNP government.
It comes after new Premier David Crisafulli revealed his first frontbench which included a major shake-up of portfolios.
Queensland’s health minister was announced as Tim Nicholls, with Ros Bates made Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training while Deb Frecklington will take over as Attorney-General.
Ms Joldic and Mr Carey both have resumes that include time working under a Labor government minister - including Bligh government minister Paul Lucas and former Treasurer Cameron Dick respectively.
Mr Walsh was brought back into the fold at Health by Shannon Fentiman when she picked up the portfolio in early 2023.
Ms Joldic, in an email to DJAG staff on Friday afternoon, said she was sad to be moving on but it was the “government’s prerogative to appoint the leaders of departments, and I am grateful to have been able to serve this great state in this capacity”.
“You have heard me say the reason I am in the public service is to give back to the country and the state that has welcomed my family and given us a renewed sense of belonging,” she said.
“It has been my greatest honour and professional privilege to lead DJAG.”
Labor-aligned director-general Mike Kaiser was also sacked by Mr Crisafulli earlier in the week, with independent Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie the replacement.
Mr Mackie was named acting director-general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, although his appointment is tipped to become permanent.
Late on Friday the government announced new appointments including Dr David Rosengren as health director-general and John Sosso as director-general of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.
Sources say Tourism and Events Queenslan CEO Patricia O’Callaghan has been head-hunted to be director general of the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Ms O’Callaghan, a former Destination Gold Coast and Townsville Enterprise CEO, was appointed TEQ boss in 2022 and has played a key role in helping Queensland’s $32bn tourism industry bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The move means TEQ will be on the hunt for a new CEO to help steer the tourism industry through towards the 2032 Olympics.
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