Christopher Levingston Blog

The incoming coalition government has put to the sword Andrew Metcalfe, who for many years was the secretary and head of DIAC. Mr Metcalfe oversaw a number of paradigm shifts on innovations in policy and law whilst he headed up the Department.

A few years ago there has seemed to be a failure on part of DIAC to engage members of the public (its clients) and RMAs. DIAC initiated a program around the slogan ‘people are our business.’

Mr Metcalfe was a very strong head of DIAC and oversaw a culture of control driven by DIAC with successive Ministers being deeply influenced by departmental strategic and tactical initiatives.

Mr Metcalfe famously described DIAC as being ‘omnipotent’ and also had expressed concerns about RMA’s operating on the margins of policy.

In recent times Mr. Metcalfe left DIAC ostensibly  for ‘health’ reasons but then took up an appointment as secretary of DAFF.

It appears that the coalition has a long memory.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-18/agriculture-minister-department/4965616