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Statement by the Australian Public Service Commissioner

Published

Earlier today I wrote to the Prime Minister resigning as Australian Public Service Commissioner, effective 13 February 2026. I have also written to the Presiding Officers of the Parliament to resign the office of Australian Parliamentary Service Commissioner.

It has been a great honour to serve in these Commissioner roles and, before that, as Secretary for Public Sector Reform. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and for the confidence of the Prime Minister, the Minister for the Public Service, the Honourable Senator Katy Gallagher, and the Presiding Officers in appointing me to those positions and, along with the Assistant Minister for the Public Service, the Hon Patrick Gorman MP, in supporting me throughout my tenure.

After almost 4 years of intense work on further strengthening the public service, I have made the decision with my family to move on and contribute in a different way.

Our public service is a national institution – indeed, a national treasure – that plays a vital role in our democracy. Over the past few years, I have had the extraordinary opportunity and privilege to work alongside colleagues across the service on significant institutional change to support capability and integrity in the public service.

These changes have included implementing regular departmental capability reviews, introducing stewardship as a public service value, more than doubling the participation of First Nations people in senior public service roles, lifting the diversity in background and experience of public servants, ensuring performance management seeks excellence in both delivery and behaviour, modernising employment conditions across the public sector, embedding integrity operations across the service, broadening the APS Academy, and uplifting skills and craft in public administration.

In the past few years, the public service has addressed the disgrace of Robodebt through independent investigations for breaches of the APS Code of Conduct. As Commissioner, I have dealt with misconduct by senior public servants, and I stand by the propriety and handling of these investigations. Ensuring that senior public servants remain accountable for their conduct strengthens the public service as an institution and supports public trust.

Public servants are great people, dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of Australians and our natural world. In my Commissioner roles, I have seen firsthand the character, professionalism and people-centred approach of public servants in their everyday service. I am proud that Australians’ trust in federal government services has improved, and that the APS Commission’s key measures of engagement, integrity and innovation of public servants across the APS have never been better, even if there is still room for improvement. Public sector reform is making a difference.

I warmly thank my colleagues in the APS Commission, Secretaries Board and across the public and parliamentary services.

I will continue to contribute to public policy and governance, and be active in areas that matter to me personally.

Dr Gordon de Brouwer
23 January 2026

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Acknowledgement of Country

The APSC acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.