Director-General’s report
In 2020–2021 the department continued to support the Premier, Cabinet and the people of Queensland.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every one of us in some way. The Queensland Government’s strong response meant the state was well positioned for recovery in the 2020–2021 year and beyond. I am proud of how DPC and the public sector has continued to lead and respond to the changing challenges we have faced. It has once again highlighted to me that our people are our strength.
In July Queensland businesses safely moved to reopen. The COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Victoria was a sobering reminder we must be vigilant and play our part. DPC staff came to the aid of our southern colleagues in July and August and were also among the 600 public servants who mobilised across the Queensland Government.
The government announced its Savings and Debt Plan, targeting $3 billion in savings over four years. In September the Treasurer released Queensland's Fiscal and Economic Review, charting the course to recovery from COVID-19 whilst remaining focused on protecting health, jobs, and businesses, through the Unite and Recover Economic Recovery Plan.
Given our strong health response and eased restrictions, Queensland was able to host the Australian Football League (AFL) teams in the lead up to and including the 124th AFL Grand Final at the Gabba in front of nearly 30,000 fans: the first time since 1902 the grand final was held outside Melbourne. Other significant COVID Safe events included Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day – the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II (15 August) and, Remembrance Day (11 November), which marked the 102nd anniversary of Armistice Day.
It was an historic year for First Nations peoples seeing the Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa (Torres Strait Islander Traditional Child Rearing Practice) Bill 2020 passed into law; commitment to the new Closing the Gap agreement and the establishment of a new historic Treaty Advancement Committee, to progress the Path to Treaty process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Queensland.
2020 was also a state election year. DPC expertly managed the caretaker period, the swearing in of Ministers, and supported the opening of the 57th Queensland Parliament. Machinery-of-government changes followed, with DPC welcoming the Anzac Day Trust to enhance our existing commitment to veterans. The 2020–2021 State Budget was brought down on 1 December with Parliamentary Budget Estimates in December rounding out the year. The government also released its objectives for the community building on the momentum of Queensland’s economic recovery plan.
The new year began with Brisbane being announced as the preferred candidate for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Outgoing Director-General Dave Stewart announced his departure in March, and I thank him for his tremendous contribution during the six years he led the department.
Since joining DPC in May, I committed to building on our strengths as the lead agency for the Queensland Government and embracing opportunities for continuous improvement.
While we work each day to keep Queenslanders safe and maintain and grow our economic and social prosperity, I would like to acknowledge and thank departmental staff for their work over this extraordinary year. They are a tireless, driving force delivering for the government and the people of Queensland.
Rachel Hunter
Director-General
Department of the Premier and Cabinet