Mike Taylor (public servant)

Michael John Taylor AO was a senior Australian public servant and policymaker, and later an Independent Director of the Bushfire CRC.

Mike Taylor
AO
Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
In office
3 December 2007 – March 2009
Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services
In office
2004 – 3 December 2007
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
In office
23 November 2001 – 26 October 2004
Personal details
Born
Michael John Taylor

18 October 1948
DiedJune 1, 2023(2023-06-01) (aged 74)
NationalityAustralia Australian
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
University of New England
OccupationPublic servant

Life and career

Mike Taylor grew up in Melbourne, Victoria.[1] In 1970 he completed his Bachelor of Agricultural Science having studied at the University of Melbourne.[1]

Taylor took his first job with the Victorian Department of Agriculture in 1971.[2] With the support of a cadetship from the Department, he completed a graduate Diploma in Agriculture Economics, attained from the University of New England in 1972.[1]

In the 1980s, Taylor worked at the Australian Dairy Industry Council.[3]

He was Secretary of the Victorian State Government Department of Agriculture, prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.[1]

In 2004, Taylor moved from the Agriculture department to the Department of Transport and Regional Services (later Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government).[4] There he assumed responsibility for implementing several initiatives to upgrade maritime, aviation and land transport security.[5]

Taylor retired from the Australian Public Service in 2009, amid rumours of a falling out with the Rudd Government.[6][7]

In the years after he was a departmental secretary, Taylor took up several board positions, including as an Independent Director for the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre,[8] and as chairman of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.[9]

When he retired from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority Board, Taylor urged the Australian Government to "reconsider the next phase" of a controversial plan to restore the health of the Murray Darling river system.[10] During his time as Chair on the Authority, he was personally criticised by people concerned that the proposed cuts to water entitlements under the plan would harm their towns.[11][12]

Taylor died on 2 June 2023 after a short illness.[13]

Awards

Taylor was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for service as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.[14]

In June 2007 Taylor was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for 'service to the management of natural resources and industry policy development at the Federal level and also in Victoria, particularly in the area of agriculture, and through contributions to transport, water, food and safety standards'.[15]

References
  1. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2011, p. 10.
  2. Andrew, Stevenson (11 December 2010). "Newsmaker Mike Taylor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010.
  3. "GARDINER FOUNDATION AGM – NEW CHAIRMAN LEADS FOUNDATION INTO SECOND DECADE" (PDF) (Press release). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2013.
  4. CA 8618: Department of Transport and Regional Services, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 21 January 2014
  5. "No Cabinet Changes But New Faces In Public Service", Australian Maritime Digest, Australian Association for Maritime Affairs, 130 (6), November 2004
  6. Albanese, Anthony (12 March 2009). "Retirement of Michael Taylor AO" (Press release). Archived from the original on 21 January 2014.
  7. Lewis, Steve (12 March 2009), Howard 'rort scheme' man quitting, The Daily Telegraph, retrieved 5 July 2013
  8. Mr Mike taylor AO, Bushfire CRC, archived from the original on 19 December 2013
  9. Colvin, Mark; Hawley, Samantha (7 December 2010). "Murray-Darling Basin Authority head resigns". PM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012.
  10. Rodgers, Emma (7 December 2010). "Murray-Darling boss resigns". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011.
  11. Goode, Mary; Roocke, Neroli (7 December 2010). "Burke defends Water Act, as MDBA chair resigns". ABC Rural. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012.
  12. Rehn, Alison (7 December 2010). "Prime Minister accepts resignation of Murray-Darling Basin Authority chairman Mike Taylor". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012.
  13. Chartres, Colin (5 June 2023). "Vale Mike Taylor AO FTSE". Crawford Fund. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  14. Search Australian Honours: TAYLOR, Michael John, Australian Government
  15. Search Australian Honours: TAYLOR, Michael John, Australian Government

References and further reading
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