Prof Glyn Davis heads Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Albanese Government

Department chiefs linked to the Coalition have been axed by Anthony Albanese under a broad shake up of the nation’s top public servants. See the new line-up.

Department chiefs linked to the Coalition have been axed by Anthony Albanese under a broad shake up of the nation’s top public servants.

The Prime Minister has announced diplomat Jan Adams, who is currently Australia’s ambassador to Japan, will replace Kathryn Campbell as Department of Affairs and Trade secretary.

Former NSW and Victorian public servant Jim Betts will takeover from Simon Atkinson at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

Several key positions remain unchanged, with Mr Albanese keeping Mike Pezzullo as Department of Home Affairs secretary, Greg Moriarty as Department of Defence secretary, and former chief medical officer Brendan Murphy as Department of Health secretary.

David Fredericks will be leaving his role as Department of Industry, Science and Resources secretary, to lead the newly created Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made several changes to the highest levels of Australia’s bureaucracy. Picture: John Grainger

Natalie James will be appointed Department of Employment and Workplace Relations secretary and Jenny Wilkinson will be appointed Department of Finance secretary.

Each of the appointments will be for five years.

“I congratulate Mr Betts, Ms Adams, Ms James and Ms Wilkinson on their appointments,” Mr Albanese said.

The Prime Minister thanked Mr Atkinson and Ms Campbell for their public service “over many years”.

“They have both brought great professionalism and deep experience to the range of roles they have held, and I wish them both the best,” he said.

Mr Albanese revealed Ms Campbell will be taking up a senior appointment in the Defence portfolio in an AUKUS-related role.

Secretary of Defence Greg Moriarty remains in the role, despite previously being tipped to move to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

A former university chief will be Australia’s most senior federal public servant, heading up the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet for Anthony Albanese.

The Prime Minister on previously revealed Professor Glyn Davis had been appointed to a five-year term in the senior role, considered a critical position in shaping Australia’s bureaucracy.

Prof Davis will left his previous position as chief executive of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, which is Australia’s largest philanthropic trust, to assume his new role on June 6.

He replaces outgoing secretary Philip Gaetjens, who had headed up PM & C since August 2019.

Mr Gaetjens, who was appointed by former PM Scott Morrison, had already gone on leave by the time Mr Albanese was sworn in Australia’s leader.

Professor Glyn Davis will lead the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

Mr Gaetjens previously came under sustained attack from Labor during the Morrison Government for being “political”.

Prof Davis previously served as Director-General of the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet between 1998 and 2002, before moving to Vice-Chancellor roles at both Griffith University and the University of Melbourne.

Mr Albanese welcomed Prof Davis’ appointment and thanks Mr Gaetjens for his service to the Australian public.

“Professor Davis will bring to the role of Secretary a deep understanding of public policy and will work with my Government in bringing about positive change for the Australian people,” he said.

Department of Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo was widely tipped to be the next head of the Department of Defence.

Despite perceptions he was close with the previous Coalition government, Mr Pezzullo was explicitly backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Mike Pezzullo is the Department of Home Affairs Secretary. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Pezzullo has been tasked with investigating why an Australian Border Force press release was issued on election day confirming an asylum seeker boat from Sri Lanka had been turned back.

The Liberal Party sent texts to voters as they went to the polls on May 21 about the boat arrival and warning about the risk to borders in what Labor has criticised as a last-ditch “scare” campaign.

“I do have confidence in Mike Pezzullo,” Mr Albanese said last week when asked about the issue.

Mr Pezzullo previously served as former Labor opposition leader Kim Beazley’s deputy chief of staff.