Mike Codd to help resolve dispute over compliance issues in Forest Management Plan

17/12/98

The State Government has engaged former First Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mike Codd, to assist Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes determine areas of dispute over compliance with Ministerial conditions set out in the Forest Management Plan 1994-2003.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) released its mid-term evaluation on the Department of Conservation and Land Management's (CALM) compliance with the Ministerial conditions last week. In response, CALM raised several concerns about factual and technical information in the report.

Mrs Edwardes said the Ministerial conditions required the Minister for the Environment to determine any conditions in dispute.

"To make a determination of the EPA and CALM information presented to me, I will require legal, technical and specialist advice. Mr Codd will be responsible for co-ordinating this task," the Minister said.

"It is important that all Western Australians are able to have confidence in the management of our forests."

Mrs Edwardes said Mr Codd was well-qualified and sufficiently independent to undertake this position.

Previously, Mr Codd had been engaged by the State Government to undertake a review of Section Eight of the Police Act, at the request of the Minister for Police, and also a review of the operations of the Ministry of the Premier and Cabinet.

Mrs Edwardes is expected to make the determinations prior to the end of January next year.

Media contact : Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777

MICHAEL H. CODD AC

Date of Birth: 26 December 1939

Qualifications: B.Ec (Hons) Adelaide, 1961.

Mr Codd worked for 30 years for the Australian government, the first seven years as a statistician and for most of the following 23 years in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In that Department he was appointed a Deputy Secretary in 1978 and Under Secretary in 1979.

He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Industrial Relations in 1981 and Secretary of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations in 1982.

In 1983, he moved to be Chairman of the Industries Assistance Commission until 1985 when he was appointed as Secretary of the newly created Department of Community Services.

In 1986, he returned to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as Secretary of the Department and Secretary to Cabinet and held that post until 1992 when he retired from the public service.

He is currently Chancellor of the University of Wollongong.

He also holds positions as Director of:

·      Qantas Airways Ltd;

·      Telstra Corporation Ltd;

·      MLC Ltd, MLC Lifetime Ltd;

·      the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Deputy Chair);

·      the Menzies Foundation (Deputy Chair); and

·      Toogoolawa Consulting Pty Ltd.

He is a member of the Advisory Boards of:

·      Spencer Stuart; and

·      Blake Dawson Waldron.

He is a senior Adviser to the Asia-Australia Institute and a member of the Board of Advisers of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation.

In addition, since 1992 Mr Codd has provided consulting services to both public and private sector organisations and has conducted a number of advisory reviews for the Commonwealth and State Governments.

Mr Codd was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1991.