Government calls in old hand to lead special Treasury office

Tom BurtonGovernment editor

Mar 23, 2020 – 8.15am

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The federal government has called in an experienced former secretary Dr Gordon de Brouwer to run a special business liaison unit in Treasury, to engage with peak business groups on systemic issues caused by COVID-19.

Dr Gordon de Brouwer has been called back to head up Treasury's business liason office. IPAA

The office has been opened and is staffed by experienced officials drawn from agencies across the Australian Public Service and will work closely with the private sector.

"It is also a source of information for business groups on the Australian Government’s response to Coronavirus and the actions that agencies are taking to support business at this difficult time," a statement from Treasury said.

The Unit supplements existing stakeholder relationships and liaison work undertaken by Government agencies, who will continue to engage closely with business stakeholders in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The government this week announced major relief measures in a co-ordinated attempt to reduce the economic fall out stemming from the increasingly strict rules to stem the spread of the virus.

Chief among these was the Reserve Bank which announced it was effectively back stopping bank loans to business. This saw the banks Friday announce a six month moratorium on loan repayments for businesses impacted by measures to stop the virus spreading.

The unit is being overseen by Dr Gordon de Brouwer. Dr de Brouwer recently completed a major review of the Australian Public Service, that was chaired by former Telstra CEO, David Thodey.

Dr de Brouwer is the National President of the Institute of Administration Australia. In Canberra he is highly respected and has held senior roles across Treasury, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and as the Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy.

Dr de Brouwer played a central role in the coordinating of Australia’s hosting of the G20 in 2013 and was closely involved in the policy actions taken during the Global Financial Crisis.

Contact with the unit can be made at coronavirusbusinessliaison@treasury.gov.au

Tom Burton has held senior editorial and publishing roles with The Mandarin, The Sydney Morning Herald and as Canberra bureau chief for The Australian Financial Review. He has won three Walkley awards. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at tom.burton@afr.com