Willmott takes CHOGM role

Premier Colin Barnett has announced new roles for his current chief of staff Deidre Willmott and the head of the government media office Paul Plowman.

Ms Willmott will take up a new role as State Director of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in Perth in late 2011.

In the new role, Ms Willmott will coordinate WA government preparations for the CHOGM meeting, in tandem with the federal government which will have prime responsibiity as host of the event.

Her prior work experience included being General Manager, Executive Services for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games for a period of three years.

Ms Willmott will also continue to work with the Premier on the Oakajee port and rail project

She annunced last month she would be stepping down from the chief of staff role to avoid potential conflicts of interest with her husband's law firm Cochrane Lishman, which is expanding into practice areas that will involve negotiations with the government.

A new chief of staff will be annunced in the new year; the rumoured front-runner is Stephen Galilee, a former Howard government staffer now working for corporate affairs and lobbying firm shac communications.

Mr Barnett also announced today that Mr Plowman will head government communications, working directly from the Premier's office, following the abolition of the Government Media Office (GMO) from January 1, 2010.

Under the new model, media advisers will work for individual Ministers, with the Premier's office co-ordinating media strategy and managing communication of major government initiatives.

The Premier's announcement is pasted below:

Premier announces changes to staff roles

Premier Colin Barnett has announced that from February 2, 2010, Deidre Willmott will take on the new role of State Director of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

"Ms Willmott is well placed to take on this important role for CHOGM, to be held in Perth in 2011, having been General Manager, Executive Services for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games for a period of three years," the Premier said.

This role included coordinating government agencies to deliver successful Games, including police, defence, transport, traffic management, tourism, protocol, venues, airport, immigration, communications and customs. She also oversaw diplomatic and Royal visits for the Games.

Ms Willmott will also continue to work with the Premier on the Oakajee project, which the Premier has highlighted as priority for the Liberal-National Government.

Mr Barnett thanked Ms Willmott for her work as Cabinet Secretary and Chief of Staff.

"Her experience was invaluable in guiding the Government through its first full year in office. She worked personally on key major projects, including the $43billion Gorgon project, which reached final investment decision on September 14, 2009," he said.

"A new Chief of Staff to the Premier will be appointed in the New Year."

Mr Barnett also confirmed that Paul Plowman will head government communications, working directly from the Premier's office, following the abolition of the Government Media Office (GMO) from January 1, 2010.

Under the new model, media advisers will work for individual Ministers with the Premier's office co-ordinating media strategy and managing communication of major government initiatives.

The Department of the Premier and Cabinet will take on the GMO's administrative and other functions, including media monitoring and oversight of government advertising.

"The GMO was first established in 1984 but over time the model has proved less useful," Mr Barnett said.

"The structure we are now adopting is more closely aligned to the Commonwealth model and most other States and Territories."