Appointment of new Official Secretary to the Governor-General

1 May 2003

I have today approved in Executive Council the appointment of Mr Malcolm Hazell CVO as Official Secretary to the Governor-General.

Mr Hazell’s appointment, which will take effect on Monday 12 May 2003, follows the retirement of Mr Martin Bonsey LVO, after his five years in the position and turning 55. 

Mr Bonsey leaves my office after a long and distinguished career in the Australian Public Service where he held senior positions in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.  He leaves with my good wishes, heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation for his dedication and professionalism.  My wife joins me in wishing Martin and his wife, Joan, good health and happiness for their future.

Mr Hazell is a senior and highly experienced public servant with over 30 years service in the Australian Public Service.  He has held various senior management and policy advising positions within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet since joining that Department in 1974.

He worked in divisions dealing with parliamentary and government matters and international relations.  Of particular relevance to his new duties was his period as head of the Office of Ceremonial and Hospitality.  He supervised many of the arrangements for the celebration of Australia’s Bicentenary in 1988 and was the Commonwealth Director of the Royal Visits to Australia.  He was also the head of the Cabinet Secretariat from 1996 -1998.

Most recently, Mr Hazell was seconded from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the position of Senior Adviser (Government) in the Prime Minister’s Office.

A copy of Mr Hazell’s cv is attached.

 

 

Name	Malcolm John HAZELL
Date of Birth	17 December 1948
Nationality	Australian
Education	Church of England Grammar School, Brisbane (1960-1965) University of Queensland (1966-1971) BA (Hons) Templeton College, Oxford (UK)(1990)
Appointments	Currently Senior Adviser (Government) to the Prime Minister (appointed 1998) Head/Assistant Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet (1994-1998) Head, South Pacific Forum Task Force (1994) Head, Office of Security and Intelligence Coordination, Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet (1989-1994) Commonwealth Director, Bicentennial Royal Visits to Australia (1986-1988) Secretary, Official Establishments Trust (1985-1987 and 1995-1996) Senior Private Secretary to the Minister for Aviation and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister (1982-1983) Private/Senior Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (1975-1979 and 1980-1981) Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet (various senior management and policy advising positions) (between 1974 and 1998) National Capital Development Commission (1973-1974)
Honours and Awards	Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) (1988) Papua New Guinea Tenth Anniversary of Independence Medal (1987) SES Fellowship (Commonwealth Government)(1989-1990)