Maybe he should be running the country? The new cabinet minister boss who will be paid almost TWICE what Scott Morrison earns
- Phil Gaetjens named as the new Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet boss
- Takes over from Dr Martin Parkinson as Australia's most senior public servant
- Prime Minister denied appointment of his former chief-of-staff was political one
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has appointed a new right-hand man - and he will earn almost twice his salary.
Phil Gaetjens was named as the incoming Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet boss on Thursday and will become Australia's most powerful public servant appointed to lead a widespread shake-up of the public sector.
The hefty $914,460 a year pay packet that comes with the plum role is almost twice than Mr Morrison's $538,460 salary.
Mr Gaetjens, an incumbent Treasury secretary, will take over from Dr Martin Parkinson next month, two years earlier than he had planned to retire from the job.
Phil Gaetens' promotion as the new Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet boss comes with a hefty salary of more than $900,000 a year
Mr Morrison dismissed widespread speculation the hand-picked promotion of his former chief-of-staff to the top role was a political appointment.
'This is not uncommon that people have worked in the political sphere and the bureaucratic sphere,' he Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
'It is about merit and it is about quality.'
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Mr Gaetjens has 40 years experience at federal and state government levels.
He also worked as a chief adviser for former long serving federal treasurer Peter Costello and was one of the chief architects behind the GST.
He also headed the NSW Treasury under state Premier Mike Baird between 2011 and 2015.
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet boss Dr Martin Parkinson will leave next month
'He's had a more close involvement in central agency planning and budgets than anyone else in this town at all levels,' Mr Morrison said.
'I am looking forward to what he will bring to the delivery of the government’s agenda, and ensuring it is well understood across the public service, and that we are getting on with the job of delivering on that agenda.'
Mr Gaetjens' predecessor originally planned to stay in the job for five years before retiring in 2021.
But Dr Parkinson and Mr Morrison agreed it was in the newly elected Prime Minister's best interests to work with a new department head.
'He is at the beginning of the term. He has a full agenda. And I came to the view it was better all around that he had someone who could go the full term with him,' Dr Parkinson told The Australian.
'I would not want anyone to think there was anything about my relationship with the prime minister that was leading me to leave.
'It is up to others to judge, but I think what he would tell you is that he and I have a very good personal and professional relationship.'
Phil Gaetjens (pictured) has 40 years experience at federal and state government levels
Mr Gaetjens described his current Treasury role as an 'an enormous privilege' and vowed to continue to enjoy in his final few weeks in the job.
'The confidence shown in me to undertake this new role is also a positive reflection on the performance of all staff in this Department,' Mr Gaetjens said in a statement.
Mr Morrison paid tribute to Dr Parkinson for his long service to Australia, as did shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers.
'He's been one of the most distinguished public servants we've had in this country. He's made an extraordinary contribution,' he told ABC radio.
Mr Morrison also announced Department of Infrastructure boss Steven Kennedy to take over from Mr Gaetjens as the next Treasury secretary.
'I believe that the two men have done an extraordinary job, and have earned my trust and my respect, and the respect of my government,' Mr Morrison said.
Scott Morrison (pictured) denied Mr Gaetjens' new promotion was a political appointment
