Departmental secretary

A departmental secretary (also known as "the secretary") is the head of an Australian Commonwealth or state government department especially in Victoria. The secretary reports directly to the government minister that oversees the Commonwealth department or state Government department for which they are responsible.

The secretary is also known as the chief executive of the department; the position is similar to director general in other states and other jurisdictions or CEO in a private company.

The most senior Commonwealth departmental secretary is the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The most senior state Government departmental secretary is usually the Secretary of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet^[1].

The equivalent position in the British government is that of permanent secretary and in the Canadian government is that of deputy minister.

References

1. ^ For example, in the Government of the state of Victoria.