CANBERRA, Australia, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced in Canberra Thursday he would appoint five new department secretaries.
Rudd appointed veteran diplomat Dennis Richardson to head foreign affairs and moved Finance Secretary Ian Watt to the Department of Defense. David Tune will be appointed head of the Department of Finance and Deregulation, The Australian reported.
Richardson replaces Michael L'Estrange, who is expected to take another top government job. Watt replaces Nick Warner who will lead the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.
Helen William is retiring as secretary of the Department of Human Services and will leave public service. She will be replaced by former education department official Finn Pratt.
Patricia Scott will leave the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy to join the Productivity Commission as a full-time commissioner, the newspaper reported. Peter Harris, a former deputy secretary in the Department of Transport and Regional Services will replace Scott.
