Three big chiefs to run health. Water bungle

TASMANIA is to have three senior health bureaucrats running the massive Department of Health and Human Services.

Under a major reorganisation of the department announced last week by departing chief Dave Roberts, there will be a new deputy secretary responsible for children.

As part of the shake-up, popular ousted Royal Hobart Hospital chief Michael Pervan has been brought in from the cold — after being left to twiddle his thumbs in the bureaucratic wilderness for three months — and given a senior, albeit acting, position within the revamped DHHS.

Mr Roberts, who will leave the top health job in March, told the department’s 11,000 public servants, doctors, nurses and child protection workers by email that the change was necessary because of political and structural shifts.

With three government ministers now responsible for the department, which consumes a third of the State Budget, it has been decided three top bureaucrats will report directly to each minister.

But there are no apparent plans to split the super-department into smaller units or departments.

The head of the department will continue to report directly to Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne.

But instead of replacing Alison Jacobs, who retired last week after more than 30 years with the public service, with another senior deputy secretary responsible for human services — which covers public housing, child protection, disabilities and community development — two new positions will be created.

Mr Pervan will act in the new role of executive director of community development, disabilities and housing until the position is filled early next year.

Mr Roberts said the new position was to match precisely the responsibilities of new Human Services Minister and Greens MP Cassy O’Connor. Mr Pervan will report directly to Mr Roberts in the new command structure.

Read Sue Neales’ full story HERE

There is further comment on this issue, on Christmas Times (9), HERE