Abbott sacks three department heads, including Keating's former adviser

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/18/abbott-dumps-three-department-heads

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Tony Abbott and the Coalition have sacked three departmental heads in a modest shakeup of the public service after promising no "night of the long knives".

Don Russell, former ambassador to Washington and adviser to former prime minister Paul Keating, is leaving as head of the Department of Industry.

Blair Comley, who oversaw Labor's carbon pricing scheme and was most recently head of the Department of Resources, is also going.

Andrew Metcalfe, long-serving head of the Department of Immigration and most recently head of the Department of Agriculture, is also departing. Metcalfe served former Howard government immigration minister Philip Ruddock but was also involved in controversial briefings of both the media and the then opposition after the high court overturned the former Labor government's so-called Malaysia solution.

Treasury head Martin Parkinson, whose future has been the subject of speculation, stays in his job but has advised the new treasurer Joe Hockey that he will be standing down next year.

"The government will be discussing a further appointment with him next year," Tony Abbott said in a statement.

Dr Gordon de Brouwer has been promoted to departmental secretary, taking responsibility for the Department of Environment, and Renée Leon is the new head of the Department of Employment. Both come from senior positions in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Dr Paul Grimes is the new head of the Agriculture Department and Glenys Beauchamp has been appointed as secretary of the Industry Department.

Lisa Paul remains as head of the Department of Education and Dr Ian Watt continues as secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and cabinet. David Tune remains secretary of the Department of Finance. Fin Pratt, now secretary of the Department of Families, Housing and Community Services, becomes secretary of the new Department of Social Services.

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