Mike Kaiser appointed as climate change secretary
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The news: Former senior Queensland public servant and Labor affiliate Mike Kaiser has been appointed secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW), succeeding David Fredericks who retired in May.
The context: Kaiser will begin in the role on 14 July. He formerly served in several senior roles in the Queensland public service between 2022 and 2024, including as director-general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
He has also previously served as chief of staff to Labor Premier of New South Wales Morris Iemma and later Labor Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh.
Kaiser was briefly a Labor member in the Queensland legislative Assembly between 2000 and 2001 but was stood down after an inquiry found he had been involved in branch stacking.
Former secretary Fredericks had spent five years as a department secretary across DCCEEW, the former Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, and the former Department of the Environment and Energy. He also spent eight years in deputy secretary roles.
What they said: "Mr Kaiser’s experience includes delivering on large scale projects, administering complex regulatory regimes and leading the Queensland Government’s policies on planning and infrastructure," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
The source: PMO media release
