Australian Department Heads Under Howard
The ‘New’ Old Broom – Andrew Metcalfe, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Metcalfe was plucked from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to head the Immigration department last year at the height of its troubles over the wrongful detention, or deportation, of citizens. In PM&C Metcalfe had been responsible for advice on the hot issues of counter-terrorism, security, defence and intelligence and was being tipped for promotion in this area. But the crisis in Immigration changed all that. Metcalfe, who had a long association with Immigration going back to 1981, and had gone to PM&C to get wider experience, became the obvious choice to head the troubled department. Over his 25 year career he has had stints in Immigration's interstate and overseas offices, its legal branch and as a Deputy Secretary, as well as a period as chief of staff for the previous Minister for Immigration, Philip Ruddock. Throughout last year, and on into this year, the department has had its many failings exposed in official inquiries. It has been accused of having a culture that is overly self-protective and defensive. Staff were said to lack training and understanding of the legislation covering their enforcement powers. Former Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Palmer, said in one of the reports into the department's activities that DIMIA, as it then was, operated without proper management oversight, with poor information systems and with no genuine quality assurance, or constraints on the exercise of its powers. Given his long involvement with the department, what does Metcalfe say about his role in the problems and the part the Government and the minister played in their development? ªI'd say that I think it's up to others to judge ultimately as to where culture comes from and what's good and what's bad,º he says.
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