New associate director-general positions added to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s department

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s department has added a series of new positions after a “strategic review” by Deloitte, but it won’t reveal if the new gigs will pocket more cash.

Another layer of bureaucracy has been added into Annastacia Palaszczuk’s department following the creation of new associate directors-general positions.

But the department has stopped short of revealing whether those in the new gigs will pocket more cash, instead saying the senior executive positions that have changed responsibilities “will be evaluated to determine their classification level”.

The restructure follows a “strategic review” of the department earlier this year which Deloitte was paid to undertake.

Among the changes is the creation of the new Cabinet Office which Mark Cridland, who was deputy director-general (DDG) of policy, is now the Associate DG for.

The office has combined a number of areas including reform and delivery, the policy division and Cabinet Services.

Director-General Rachel Hunter. Image: Josh Woning

Filly Morgan, who was DDG of corporate and government services, is now Associate DG of governance and engagement.

Kerry Petersen, who was DDG for the 2032 Taskforce and DDG for the strategy and engagement division and Covid-19 Response and Recovery Taskforce, is now Associate DG for the 2032 Taskforce.

The structure of this area has not yet been finalised.

The associate DGs will report to Director-General Rachel Hunter while the DDGs will report to the associate DGs.

Asked whether the department’s wages bill would increase, a spokeswoman said any costs would be met within the approved budget.

“A strategic review was undertaken to enable the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to strengthen delivery of government priorities for the people of Queensland,” a spokeswoman said.

1 William Street. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen

“Functions have been realigned and three divisions have been reduced to two, led by the two associate directors-general.

“The Premier is now also the Minister for the Olympics and the department will have a key role in supporting this new function.”

The spokeswoman said senior positions that had changed would be evaluated to determine their classification level, with appointments to be made in accordance with public service directives.

“To ensure operational efficiency some staff are acting in new roles but paid at their current level,” she said.

The new structure came into effect on Monday.

The spokeswoman said no other new roles had been created.

Opposition industrial relations spokesman Jarrod Bleijie took aim at the changes, claiming the highly-paid positions wouldn’t make a difference to frontline services that “Queenslanders want fixed”.

“Restructuring the Premier’s senior staff isn’t going to fix the Queensland Health crisis, support small and family business owners, fix our roads or improve our local schools,” he said.

Originally published as New associate director-general positions added to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s department