The recent departure of numerous executives from the department of immigration is not a result of staff being sacked but rather voluntary departures, says the DIBP.

In a sharp response to an article in The Canberra Times – which reported the department was facing "the public service's greatest executive brain drain since the 1980s, with a quarter of its upper ranks either shown the door or turning their backs on the department since its takeover by customs" – the DIBP has told the paper that the story published on Friday contained "inaccuracies, incomplete information and speculation" regarding departures, and that "the secretary [Michael Pezzullo] has stated that a number of ... officers have [decided to move to other departments or] chosen to leave the organisation voluntarily".

The Canberra Times has confirmed the toll of departures, either already announced or coming up, has reached 30, from a senior executive cohort of 119 in June 2014. Four deputy secretaries, nine first assistant secretaries and 17 assistant secretaries have now confirmed their departures or are expected soon to do so. An unprecedented 10 of them have opted to follow their old boss Martin Bowles to the Health Department.

“Insiders have complained about the management style of the new regime and there has been unhappiness from veteran public servants forced to wear the military-style Australian Border Force uniform to work each day after a lifetime of civilian service.

“Many of the replacement executives drafted in have come from Defence, where new Immigration secretary Michael Pezzullo used to work. The "militarisation" of the portfolio, which began as a nation-building outfit 70 years ago, has proven too much for many executives, who have voted with their feet,” said the report.

While the creation of the new department remains a politically charged issue, the bureaucratic changes being implemented may be a breath of fresh air – and even result in a more professional and responsive bureaucracy, you think?

According to The Canberra Times, the following staff have left the DIBP

Deputy secretaries

• Liz Cosson – gone to Health
• Mark Cormack – gone to Health
• Wendy Southern – gone to Health
• Peter Vardos – moved to a "special project" and understood to be leaving.

First assistant secretaries

• John Cahill – will not return from extended leave
• Ken Douglas – will not return from extended leave
• Gary Fleming – not expected to return from secondment to Prime Minister and Cabinet
• Matt Cahill – gone to PM&C
• Alison Larkins – gone to PM&C
• Kate Pope – gone to Health
• Vicki Parker – gone to Social Services
• Matt Yannopoulos – gone to Health
• Christopher Callanan – retired

Assistant secretaries

• Katie Constaninou – gone to Health
• Bobbi Campbell – gone to Health
• Jackie Davis – gone to Health
• Luke Mansfield – gone to PM&C
• Ross Hawkins – gone to Health
• Paul McCormack – gone to Health
• Daniel McCabe – gone to Therapeutic Goods Administration
• Hawari Badri – Gone to Social Services
• Jill Simpson – gone to Veterans' Affairs
• David Walsh – retired
• Paula Williams – retired
• Amanda Paxton – gone to Migration Review Tribunal
• Rocio Trapaga Saul – accepted redundancy
• Peter Speldewinde – will not return from leave
• Margaret Hoffmann – will not return from leave
• Janet Mackin – retired
• Paul Windsor – gone to Migration Review Tribunal