Michael Coutts-Trotter
Alma materUniversity of Technology, Sydney
OccupationPublic servant
EmployerNew South Wales Government
Organisation(s)New South Wales Treasury
Department of Premier and Cabinet (2021–2023)
Department of Communities and Justice (until 2021)
SpouseTanya Plibersek MP (married since November 2000)
ChildrenAnna, Joe and Louis

Michael Coutts-Trotter is an Australian public servant who is the current Secretary of the New South Wales Treasury.[1]

He was previously the Secretaries of the New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet, Department of Communities and Justice, the director-generals of the Department of Education and Department of Finance and Services. Coutts-Trotter served almost three years of a nine-year prison sentence after being convicted for the importation and distribution of heroin into Australia in 1986.[2]

Early life

Coutts-Trotter was born in England and arrived in Australia with his parents in 1976. His father Paul was the son of Sir Murray Coutts-Trotter, former chief Justice of Madras, while his mother Helen was from Cootamundra.[3] Coutts-Trotter matriculated from Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview.[4] In 1986, he received a nine-year prison sentence as a drug dealer selling heroin to addicts. He served two years and nine months in jail before parole in 1988.[2][4] He graduated from the University of Technology Sydney with a degree in communications in 1995.[2]

Public service career

In April 2007, Coutts-Trotter was appointed Director-General of the NSW Department of Education. This appointment was criticised by opposition members of parliament, the NSW Teachers Federation and the Public Principals Forum for his lack of experience in teaching and education and his criminal conviction as a heroin trafficker.[5]

The Teachers Federation also questioned his criminal past and time spent in prison for heroin dealing; with the Federation's president, Maree O'Halloran, saying that a teacher with his criminal conviction for a serious drug offence would be unable to continue teaching and working with children.[4]

Appointing him as Director-General of the Department of Finance and Services in April 2011, Premier Barry O'Farrell said that Coutts-Trotter's skills would allow this new department to deliver on its results.[6] It was reported in July 2013, upon his appointment to lead the Department of Family and Community Services, that Coutts-Trotter's new role was a demotion.[7] Following the report O'Farrell held a media conference to reject the suggestion.

In 2013, Coutts-Trotter was made a national fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.[8]

In April 2019, Coutts-Trotter was announced as the new head of the (NSW) Department of Communities & Justice[9] after Andrew Cappie-Wood left that position.[10]

In October 2021, the newly appointed NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced that Coutts-Trotter was promoted to the role of Secretary of the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.[11][12] In April 2023, he was appointed by the new Labor government as the acting secretary of the New South Wales Treasury.[13]

Personal life

Coutts-Trotter is married to Tanya Plibersek, a federal MP and former deputy leader of the Australian Labor Party.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Executive Board | NSW Treasury". Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Tanya Plibersek on her brother's death and husband's drug addiction". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  3. ↑ Michael Koziol, 'Michael Coutts-Trotter's journey from drug smuggler to head of the justice system',
  4. 1 2 3 Welch, Dylan; Patty, Anna (11 April 2007). "Give me a chance: schools' chief". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 April 2007.
  5. ↑ "New schools' boss defends criminal past". Australia: ABC News. 11 April 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2007.
  6. ↑ "O'Farrell puts stamp on public service". The Australian. AAP. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Bashan, Yoni; Clennel, Andrew (18 July 2013). "NSW finance minister Greg Pearce's director-general Michael Coutts Trotter demoted in major reshuffle". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Prestigious awards ceremony celebrates the work of outstanding public administrators" (PDF). Institute of Public Administration Australia. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  9. ↑ Hadley, Ray (2 April 2019). "Ray Hadley supports convicted criminal appointed Secretary of Justice". 2GB. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Retirement of Andrew Cappie-Wood". Department of Justice, Government of New South Wales. 31 March 2019.
  11. ↑ Smith, Alexandra (7 October 2021). "Coutts-Trotter to head Premier's Department in Perrottet shake-up". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  12. ↑ "Coutts-Trotter to head Premier's department". Government News. 7 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "Minns Government public service changes to tackle state's challenges". NSW Government. 14 April 2023.
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