Queensland’s top public servant revealed as Premier announces new D-G

Premier David Crisafulli has poached South Australia’s top public servant to head Queensland’s state bureaucracy as Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

South Australian Damien Walker, the chief executive of that state’s DPC, will take the equivalent role as the head of Queensland’s public service from December 23.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas appointed Walker to the role in April 2022, weeks after leading Labor to power in the state.

Damien Walker during Queensland budget estimates in 2018.Credit: Dan Peled/AAP

Before returning home to South Australia, Walker served as director-general of Queensland’s Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning under the Palaszczuk Labor government.

During that time, the department oversaw the delivery of the controversial Wellcamp quarantine facility, of which Crisafulli and his deputy, Jarrod Bleijie, were highly critical.

Walker also came under intense questioning by Crisafulli during budget estimates in 2019 over the granting of taxpayer funds to a company co-owned by then-premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s chief of staff, David Barbagallo.

Walker was also responsible for the Queensland government’s delivery of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Along with Walker, Crisafulli also announced NSW Small Business Commissioner Chris Lamont would be Director-General of the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business from January 6 next year.

“Both Damien and Chris bring enormous experience and dynamism to their respective portfolios and the public service will be strengthened by their appointments,” Crisafulli said.

“The appointments of Mr Walker and Mr Lamont emphasise stability and strength of leadership are at the heart of the public service.”

Crisafulli said acting DPC Director-General David Mackie would return to his role as Public Sector Commissioner when Walker takes his office in 1 William Street.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.