Michael Costello | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of theDepartment of Industrial Relations | |
| In office 6 March 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Secretary of theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
| In office 27 May 1993 – 8 March 1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael John Costello |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Christine Wallace[1] |
| Occupation | Public servant |
Michael John CostelloAO is a former senior Australian public servant and chief of staff to formerAustralian Labor Party politicianKim Beazley during Beazley's tenure asLeader of the Opposition from 1996 to 2001.[citation needed]
In 1992, Costello was appointed Secretary of theDepartment of Industrial Relations, where he stayed until 1993 when he was appointed Secretary of theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).[2][3] In this role, he took a proactive position on Asia. In 1996, he and five other Australian Government departmental secretaries were summarily dismissed by the newly electedHoward government in 1996 in what journalistPaul Kelly described in 2005 as "the greatest blood-letting upon any change of government since Federation".[4]
On leaving DFAT, he became theCEO ofACTEW Corporation, theAustralian Capital Territory's electricity and water authority.[3]
In 2004, he was highly critical ofMark Latham forLabor's federal election defeat to the Howard government.[5]
In 2008, he wrote a weekly column forThe Australian supportive of Beazley and Labor's economic policies during the Hawke and Keating years.[6][7]
On 26 June 2010, Costello had a final column published inThe Australian concerning the federal ALP's dumping ofKevin Rudd in favour ofJulia Gillard. Costello downplayed the role of the factions and unions, arguing that "The truth is that the power of the factions and the unions has been steadily declining."[8]
Costello was made an Officer of theOrder of Australia in 1996, in recognition of service to international relations, particularly in relation to the Cambodian peace settlement and the Chemical Warfare Convention.[9]
Costello is married toChristine Wallace, Australian journalist and biographer.[1]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Secretary of theDepartment of Industrial Relations 1992 – 1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Secretary of theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade 1993 – 1996 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | Acting Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations 1988–1989 | Succeeded by |