Paul Barratt
Paul Hunter Barratt, AO is a former senior Australian public servant and policymaker. He is currently Chairman of Australia21, Chairman of UNE Foundation and President of Australians for War Powers Reform.
Paul Barratt AO | |
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Secretary of the Department of Defence | |
In office February 1998 – 31 August 1999 | |
Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries and Energy | |
In office 11 March 1996 – 5 February 1998 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Paul Hunter Barratt 194? |
Nationality | Australian |
Parents | Paul Eric Hunter Barratt[1] and Shirley Egan[2] |
Alma mater | Australian National University University of New England |
Occupation | Public servant |
Website | http://aussieobserver.blogspot.com.au/ |
Background and early life
Paul Barratt, aged two, and his family moved to Armidale in 1946.[3] He attended the Armidale Demonstration School between 1949 and 1955.[4] He sat his New South Wales Leaving Certificate at The Armidale School in 1960.[5]
In 1961 he began his degree at the University of New England, living in Wright College and graduating with an honours degree in physics.[6][7]
Career
Barratt joined the Commonwealth Public Sector in the Department of Defence in 1966.[8]
Between 1974 and 1985, Barratt was a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Trade and accompanied Prime Minister Bob Hawke on his February 1984 visit to China.[9][8]
Between 1992 and 1996 Barratt was Executive Director at the Business Council of Australia.[8] In 1996, Barratt rejoined the Australian Public Service as Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries and Energy,[10] offered the role by Prime Minister John Howard, on the recommendation of Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson. Barratt had accepted a $70,000 pay cut to return to the public sector.[11]
Barratt transferred from the Department of Primary Industries and Energy to a second Secretary role in 1998, this time at the Department of Defence.
Barratt was dismissed from his Secretary role at Defence in August 1999, with a letter saying he was being dismissed because his minister John Moore "had lost trust and confidence" in his abilities to perform his duties.[11] Barratt fought the dismissal, taking his case to the Federal Court. He was successful in establishing that a Department Secretary has a right to be heard before termination of his/her appointment, but in March 2000 the Federal Court rejected an appeal in relation to the nature of that hearing.[12]
Barratt was Deputy Chairman of the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures from 2010-2015. He is Chairman of Australia 21,[13] Chairman of UNE Foundation and President of Australians for War Powers Reform.
Awards
In 1997 Barratt received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of New England.[14] In 1999 Barratt was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to public administration, public policy development, business and international trade.[13]
References
- Barratt, Paul, New England University Rugby Team 1939, archived from the original on 10 April 2013
- Barratt, Paul (28 January 2014), "Vale Bill Prichett 1921–2014", Australian Observer, archived from the original on 6 February 2014
- Barratt, Paul (6 December 2009), "Ida Madge Brown (1904–2009)", Australian Observer, archived from the original on 6 May 2013
- Barratt, Paul (6 June 2011), "Armidale Demonstration School 150th anniversary", Australian Observer, archived from the original on 29 April 2013
- Barratt, Paul (19 September 2010), "The Class of 1960, fifty years on", Australian Observer, archived from the original on 25 April 2013
- Paul Barratt, Australian Broadcasting Commission, archived from the original on 5 June 2013
- Barratt, Paul (28 September 2013), "Russell Ward by Adhi Hendranto", Australia Observer, archived from the original on 22 January 2014
- Mr Paul Barratt, University of New England, archived from the original on 22 January 2014
- Barratt, Paul (29 March 2012), "Yellow Earth", Australian Observer, archived from the original on 30 April 2013
- Howard, John (8 March 1996). "STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER DESIGNATE THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013.
- Grattan, Michelle; Cole-Adams, Peter (21 August 1999). "Campaign to sack Barratt relaunched". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 8.
- Pullin, Len; Haidar, Ali (May 2004), DISMISSING A DEPARTMENTAL SECRETARY: AN OVERT EXERCISE OF POWER IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT (PDF), Monash University, p. 9, archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2013
- Speakers 2013, National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development, archived from the original on 8 August 2013
- Mr Paul Barratt, University of New England, archived from the original on 1 February 2014, retrieved 22 January 2014
Government offices | ||
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Preceded by Tony Ayers |
Secretary of the Department of Defence 1998–1999 |
Succeeded by Allan Hawke |
Preceded by Greg Taylor |
Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries and Energy 1996–1998 |
Succeeded by Ken Matthews |