Tony Ayers
| Tony Ayers AC | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs | |
| In office 20 July 1979 – 5 May 1981 | |
| Department of Social Security | |
| In office 21 May 1981 – 14 November 1986 | |
| Acting Secretary of the Department of Community Services | |
| In office 13 December 1984 – 13 March 1985 | |
| Secretary of the Department of Community Services and Health | |
| In office 24 July 1987 – 31 July 1988 | |
| Secretary of the Department of Defence | |
| In office 1 August 1988 – 5 February 1998 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anthony Joseph Ayers 1933 |
| Nationality |  Australian |
| Occupation | Public servant |
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Ayers AC (born 1933) is a retired senior Australian public servant.
Life and career
Tony Ayers was born in 1933.[1] His first job was teaching in a Victorian school. He later was an education officer in Pentridge Prison, Melbourne.[2]
In 1967 Ayers moved to Canberra as Director of Welfare in the Department of the Interior.
He was appointed to his first Secretary role in 1979 as head of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.[3][4] Ayers moved soon after, in 1981, to the Department of Social Security (DSS).[5] During his time at DSS he served concurrently for three months as Acting Secretary of the Department of Community Services.[6] Ayers moved to an appointment as Secretary of the Department of Community Services and Health when the Hawke Government restructured the public service and created "super ministries" in 1987.[7]
Ayers final posting in the Australian Public Service was as Secretary of the Department of Defence between 1988 and 1998.[8][9] Ayers was praised for his work in the Department, one of the few departmental heads who has left the Department of Defence on their own accord, rather than being compelled to leave by the Defence Minister, in the last 30 years.[10]
Awards
Ayers was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 1985.[11]
In January 1993 he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, in recognition of service to leadership in the development and implementation of administrative structures, systems and procedures.[12]
References
- ↑ Ayers, Tony (1933–), National Library of Australia, retrieved 22 April 2014 Archived April 26, 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Burgess, Verona (9 January 1993). "The Chinese Mandarin". The Canberra Times. p. 15. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014.
- ↑ "Perkins appointment". The Canberra Times. 5 September 1979. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
- ↑ CA 1476: Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 7 February 2014
- ↑ CA 1482: Department of Social Security, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 7 February 2014
- ↑ CA 4133: Department of Community Services, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 7 February 2014
- ↑ CA 5985: Department of Community Services and Health, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 7 February 2014
- ↑ CA 46: Department of Defence [III], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 7 February 2014
- ↑ Hawke, Robert (2 June 1988). "Unknown" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013.
- ↑ "Changing guards at Capital Palace". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). 6 August 2011. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014.
- ↑ Search Australian Honours: AYERS, Anthony Joseph, Australian Government Archived February 23, 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Search Australian Honours: AYERS, Anthony Joseph, Australian Government Archived February 23, 2014 at the Wayback Machine
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Hay |
Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs 1979 – 1981 |
Succeeded by John Taylor |
| Preceded by Pat Lanigan |
Secretary of the Department of Social Security 1981 – 1986 |
Succeeded by Derek Volker |
| New title Department established |
Acting Secretary of the Department of Community Services 1984 – 1985 |
Succeeded by Mike Codd |
| Preceded by Bernard McKay as Secretary of the Department of Health |
Secretary of the Department of Community Services and Health 1987 – 1988 |
Succeeded by Stuart Hamilton |
| Preceded by Alan Rose as Secretary of the Department of Community Services | ||
| Preceded by Alan Woods |
Secretary of the Department of Defence 1988 – 1998 |
Succeeded by Paul Barratt |