Max Moore-Wilton
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Max Moore-Wilton AC |
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|---|---|
| Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | |
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In office 13 May 1996 – 20 December 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Keating |
| Succeeded by | Peter Shergold |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Maxwell William Moore-Wilton 27 January 1943 |
| Nationality |
 Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Jan Moore-Wilton |
| Occupation | Company director; former Public servant |
Maxwell William "Max" Moore-Wilton AC (born 27 January 1943) is an Australian corporate executive and former public servant, colloquially known as "Max the Axe".
Moore-Wilton served as a senior executive in the Trade and Primary Industries portfolios, General Manager of the Australian Wheat Board, Director-General of the NSW Department of Transport, and the Chief Executive of the NSW Maritime Services Board and the Roads and Traffic Authority, manager of Australian National Lines and at the .
Moore-Wilton was appointed Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet with effect from 13 May 1996, shortly after John Howard became Prime Minister.
He immediately implemented cuts of more than 11,000 staff, including six department heads and proceeded to aggressively outsource various government services. He also oversaw the passing of the Public Service Act, 1999 (Cth), which gave the Prime Minister the power to hire and fire heads of departments. As a result, he was accused of turning the public service into an "ideological office family".Paul Barratt, a former Secretary to the Department of Defence, was one such head of department who fell out of favour with his Minister, John Moore. After the Minister sought to dismiss him, Barratt commenced legal action, claiming unfair dismissal and that Moore-Wilton had failed to follow due process. Barratt had a temporary stay, prior to his dismissal, and subsequently losing, on appeal.
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