The head of the Department of Parliamentary Services has announced a sudden “period of leave”, leaving a former anti-corruption commissioner in charge of the department.
The secretary, Rob Stefanic, announced to staff in an email on Wednesday morning he had made a decision to “take a period of leave”.
Jaala Hinchcliffe, the department’s deputy secretary who was an interim deputy commissioner for the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) until January, would act as secretary.
Stefanic’s email indicated a new hire, Nicola Hinder, who started on Tuesday, would become the acting deputy secretary while Hinchcliffe took on higher duties.
“The year has passed rapidly and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredible achievements and contributions across our department to support the effective operation of the Australian Parliament and Australian Parliament House,” Stefanic wrote on Wednesday before his leave.
A DPS spokesperson confirmed the secretary was on leave but would not “disclose details on individual leave arrangements”.
Stefanic has been approached for comment.
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Stefanic was appointed as the department’s secretary in December 2015. He was reappointed for a second term in December 2020 for another five years to 13 December 2025.
