Appointment of the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and CEO of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Scott Morrison today welcomed the appointment by Prime Minister Tony Abbott today of Mr Michael Pezzullo as the incoming Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, which will take effect Monday 13 October 2014.

'Having worked closely with Mr Pezzullo in delivering the government's border protection reforms, and more recently on enforcing increased national security measures at the border, I welcome today's announcement,' Mr Morrison said.

Mr Pezzullo was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service in February 2013, and has been a driving force behind the internal reform of the ACBPS, and more recently, the government's larger border protection reforms that I announced in May.

'As a result of Mr Pezzullo's appointment, today I also welcome the Prime Minister's announcement of Mr Roman Quaedvlieg APM as the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service until 30 June 2015.'

This tenure coincides with the proposed commencement of the Australian Border Force on 1 July 2015.

Mr Quaedvlieg, a career police officer, joined the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service in May 2013 as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Border Enforcement, and has focused on building the agency's law enforcement capability, establishing the foundations for the future Australian Border Force.

'The evolution of our border functions is critical. We must manage the integrity of our border, and contribute to the prosperity and protection of the economy and, of course, the Australian community,' Mr Morrison said.

'I congratulate Mr Pezzullo and Mr Quaedvlieg and look forward to working with them in their new roles.'
The appointments will come into effect on Monday 13 October 2014.

'I would like to thank outgoing Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection Martin Bowles PSM for his excellent contributions and wish him well in his new role as Secretary of the Department of Health,' Minister Morrison said.