By agreement, Darren Foster will step down from his role as Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, effective immediately.
Deputy Director General Emily Roper will act in the Director General role this week.
From Monday, March 30, Rebecca Brown, current Director General of the Department Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation will be appointed as Acting Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
Public Sector Commissioner Sharyn O’Neill will take a lead role, together with the Police Commissioner, in the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the public sector co-ordinator.
This fits with the Commission’s responsibilities more broadly for public sector management.
I want to recognise Mr Foster’s enormous contribution over the last three years and thank him for his service to Western Australia.
Mr Foster is taking some personal leave and will return to the public sector in due course.
I have asked Mr Foster to consider taking on an important role in economic recovery, linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Western Australia is facing unprecedented challenges and the immediate challenge is to minimise the spread of the virus and do what we can to support our economy.
We also need to look beyond the crisis we are in now and prepare for the significant recovery that will be needed to get our State and our economy back into gear.
These administrative changes will not negatively impact the work the State Government is currently doing or the work we do in the future.
