Mike Kaiser has been appointed as the new Secretary for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Photo: ANZSOG.
Former Queensland Labor MP Mike Kaiser has been named as the incoming Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, following the recent retirement of David Fredericks.
Mr Kaiser will start his five-year term on 14 July.
Between 2000 and 2001, Mr Kaiser was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, but resigned when an inquiry found he had been used in a Labor branch stacking exercise in the 1980s.
He has been a Queensland state secretary of the Labor Party, an assistant national secretary and chief of staff for Labor premiers Morris Iemma (NSW) and Anna Bligh (Qld); an executive at NBN Co; and Director-General of the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet.
He held the role running the Queensland Premier’s department until he was stood down after Labor lost office at the 2024 state election.
There was strong speculation Mr Kaiser would be subsequently appointed to a similar role for WA Premier Roger Cook’s department.
Anthony Albanese praised the track record and experience of the incoming Secretary, but made no mention of his past as an MP.
“I am pleased to announce that I intend to recommend to the Governor-General that she appoint Mr Mike Kaiser as Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water,” the Prime Minister said on Tuesday (8 July).
“Mr Kaiser has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors including in senior roles in the Queensland public service, having served as Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Director-General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and as Director General of the Department of Resources.
“Mr Kaiser’s experience includes delivering on large scale projects, administering complex regulatory regimes and leading the Queensland Government’s policies on planning and infrastructure.
“I would like to thank Mr David Fredericks PSM for his service as Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and to the Australian Public Service. I wish him and his family the best for the future.”
