Malcolm Hazell
Encyclopedia
Malcolm John Hazell CVO AM is a retired Australia
n public servant. He was the Official Secretary
to two Governors-General of Australia
, Peter Hollingworth
(2003) and Major-General Michael Jeffery
(2003–2008).
. He joined the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(PM&C) in 1974, holding policy advising positions. He worked on parliamentary and government matters and international relations. As Head of the Office of Ceremonial and Hospitality, he supervised many arrangements, including the Australian Bicentenary celebrations in 1988, and he was the Commonwealth Director of Royal Visits to Australia. He was the Head of the Cabinet Secretariat from 1996 to 1998.
He was seconded to the position of Senior Government Adviser in the office of the Prime Minister
John Howard
. In 2003, he became Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
, Peter Hollingworth
. That position also entails being Secretary of the Order of Australia
. On Hollingworth's resignation later that year, he continued to serve his successor Major-General Michael Jeffery
.
In August 2008, there was considerable media comment when it was revealed that Major-General Jeffery’s successor-in-waiting, Ms Quentin Bryce
, had decided that she would appoint Stephen Brady
as her Official Secretary when she took office on 5 September. This meant that Hazell’s job would be ending, and although he made no public comment, he was reported to be "distraught" when informed of the matter three weeks earlier by the Secretary of PM&C, Terry Moran. It was reported that Major-General Jeffery confronted Ms Bryce about the matter when they met in Brisbane. However, PM Rudd stated that neither he nor his office played any part in Ms Bryce's decision. At the same time, he defended Ms Bryce's right to decide who her official secretary should be, and said that Malcolm Hazell would be offered another position within the public service.
for his services during the 1988 Royal Visit.
In 2008, Mr Hazell was made a Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
On 8 June 2009, Mr Hazell was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
"For service to the community and to successive Australian Governments through senior positions in the Australian Public Service, and as Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia." He received the insignia of the award from the current Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce
, at an investiture at Government House, Canberra on 7 September 2009.
On 11 June 2010, Malcolm Hazell was appointed an Extra Equerry to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
, as Chair of the Education Committee and also as Deputy Chairman of the Board. He is also involved in community education activities with the Anglican Church
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n public servant. He was the Official Secretary
Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
The Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia and his staff provide governors-general with the necessary support to enable them to carry out their constitutional, statutory, ceremonial and public duties. The position of Official Secretary was established in 1901, although only...
to two Governors-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, Peter Hollingworth
Peter Hollingworth
Peter John Hollingworth AC, OBE is an Australian Anglican bishop. He served as the Archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years before becoming the 23rd Governor-General of Australia from 2001 until 2003....
(2003) and Major-General Michael Jeffery
Michael Jeffery
Major General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC was the 24th Governor-General of Australia , the first Australian career soldier to be appointed governor-general...
(2003–2008).
Biography
Malcolm Hazell had over 30 years experience in the Australian Public ServiceAustralian Public Service
The Australian Public Service is the Australian federal civil service, the group of people employed by federal departments, agencies and courts under the Government of Australia, to administer the working of the public administration of the Commonwealth of Australia...
. He joined the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is an Australian Government department. The Department was first established in 1911...
(PM&C) in 1974, holding policy advising positions. He worked on parliamentary and government matters and international relations. As Head of the Office of Ceremonial and Hospitality, he supervised many arrangements, including the Australian Bicentenary celebrations in 1988, and he was the Commonwealth Director of Royal Visits to Australia. He was the Head of the Cabinet Secretariat from 1996 to 1998.
He was seconded to the position of Senior Government Adviser in the office of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
. In 2003, he became Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
The Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia and his staff provide governors-general with the necessary support to enable them to carry out their constitutional, statutory, ceremonial and public duties. The position of Official Secretary was established in 1901, although only...
, Peter Hollingworth
Peter Hollingworth
Peter John Hollingworth AC, OBE is an Australian Anglican bishop. He served as the Archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years before becoming the 23rd Governor-General of Australia from 2001 until 2003....
. That position also entails being Secretary of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
. On Hollingworth's resignation later that year, he continued to serve his successor Major-General Michael Jeffery
Michael Jeffery
Major General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC was the 24th Governor-General of Australia , the first Australian career soldier to be appointed governor-general...
.
In August 2008, there was considerable media comment when it was revealed that Major-General Jeffery’s successor-in-waiting, Ms Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland....
, had decided that she would appoint Stephen Brady
Stephen Brady
Stephen Brady, CVO is a senior Australian career diplomat. In 1999 he and his partner Peter Stephens became the world's first officially acknowledged gay ambassadorial couple, when they were presented to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at the start of Brady's posting as Australian Ambassador to...
as her Official Secretary when she took office on 5 September. This meant that Hazell’s job would be ending, and although he made no public comment, he was reported to be "distraught" when informed of the matter three weeks earlier by the Secretary of PM&C, Terry Moran. It was reported that Major-General Jeffery confronted Ms Bryce about the matter when they met in Brisbane. However, PM Rudd stated that neither he nor his office played any part in Ms Bryce's decision. At the same time, he defended Ms Bryce's right to decide who her official secretary should be, and said that Malcolm Hazell would be offered another position within the public service.
Honours
On 10 May 1988, Queen Elizabeth II invested Malcolm Hazell as a Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
for his services during the 1988 Royal Visit.
In 2008, Mr Hazell was made a Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
On 8 June 2009, Mr Hazell was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
"For service to the community and to successive Australian Governments through senior positions in the Australian Public Service, and as Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia." He received the insignia of the award from the current Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland....
, at an investiture at Government House, Canberra on 7 September 2009.
On 11 June 2010, Malcolm Hazell was appointed an Extra Equerry to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Personal
Malcolm Hazell is married with two sons. From 1994 to 2006 he served on the Board of Canberra Grammar SchoolCanberra Grammar School
Canberra Grammar School is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located in Red Hill, a suburb of Canberra, the capital of Australia....
, as Chair of the Education Committee and also as Deputy Chairman of the Board. He is also involved in community education activities with the Anglican Church
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.