APS Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer is moving on from the role. Photo: Comcare.
Dr Gordon de Brouwer has announced he’s stepping down as Australian Public Service Commissioner, effective 13 February.
He’s also resigned from the office of Australian Parliamentary Service Commissioner, stating it had been a “great honour” to serve in both roles.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and for the confidence of the Prime Minister, the Minister for the Public Service, the Honourable Senator Katy Gallagher, and the presiding officers in appointing me to those positions and, along with the Assistant Minister for the Public Service, the Hon Patrick Gorman MP, in supporting me throughout my tenure,” Dr de Brouwer said.
“After almost four years of intense work on further strengthening the public service, I have made the decision with my family to move on and contribute in a different way.”
Dr de Brouwer has been involved in implementing regular departmental capability reviews, introducing ‘stewardship’ as a public service value, more than doubling the participation of First Nations people in senior public service roles, modernising employment conditions across the public sector, and broadening the APS Academy.
Dr de Brouwer also addressed his role in addressing the “disgrace” of Robodebt through independent investigations for breaches of the APS Code of Conduct.
“As Commissioner, I have dealt with misconduct by senior public servants, and I stand by the propriety and handling of these investigations,” he said.
“Ensuring that senior public servants remain accountable for their conduct strengthens the public service as an institution and supports public trust.”
Dr de Brouwer himself was accused of code of conduct breaches related to his handling of the service’s Robodebt inquiry but he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
More recently he came under scrutiny during Supplementary Budget Estimates hearings in December 2025, over comments about senior public servants giving ministers advice through yellow sticky notes attached to briefings.
When told by ACT Senator David Pocock that such a practice was illegal, Dr de Brouwer said it wasn’t.
He stood by his statement that he didn’t think sticky notes themselves were illegal, but accepted that failing to keep records was.
“It’s not a practice I’ve done, or I accept, or I would, or I think is right. But I am just observing that public servants, in my experience, I do know public servants who have done that in the past,” Dr de Brouwer said at that time.
Looking to the future, Dr de Brouwer said he would continue to contribute to public policy and governance, and be active in areas he personally cared about.
“Our public service is a national institution – indeed, a national treasure – that plays a vital role in our democracy. Over the past few years, I have had the extraordinary opportunity and privilege to work alongside colleagues across the service on significant institutional change to support capability and integrity in the public service,” he said.
“Public servants are great people, dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of Australians and our natural world. In my commissioner roles, I have seen firsthand the character, professionalism and people-centred approach of public servants in their everyday service.
“I am proud that Australians’ trust in federal government services has improved, and that the APS Commission’s key measures of engagement, integrity and innovation of public servants across the APS have never been better, even if there is still room for improvement.
“Public sector reform is making a difference.”
