The David Thodey-led industry growth agency Jobs for NSW has been moved into a new Business and Economic Development Unit within the state’s Treasury portfolio, putting it at the heart of the government.
But the new structure means Jobs for NSW will cease to be an Agency, as it is integrated into the powerful new Treasury unit – so its board is no longer required. Mr Thodey and a host of industry luminaries including Craig Dunn, Dr Chris Roberts, and Helen Zimmerman have moved on.
Jobs for NSW has also been removed from the Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s portfolio duties – who is now a minister within the Treasury – and moved to Stuart Ayes’ portfolio as Minister for for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, also within Treasury.
Jobs for NSW has been a primary driver and delivery agency for the creation of the Sydney Startup Hub, and had been given a lead role in creating momentum for the creation of the far more ambitious Sydney Technology and Innovation Precinct around Central Station.
The re-elected Berejiklian Government has been significantly restructured, and created a powerful economic development capability within Treasury under the highly-regarded Treasury secretary Mike Pratt inside Dominic Perrottet’s overall portfolio.
Mr Pratt, who is a former Westpac group executive and CEO of the Bank of Melbourne, and until 2017 had been NSW Customer Service Commissioner in the earliest days of the successful Service NSW roll-out.
The Jobs for NSW move into Treasury puts it into one of just three central agencies (the others being the Department of Customer Service and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.)
Also moving to Treasury is Destination NSW, also under Mr Ayers, as well as a junior ministry for Finance and Small Business under Damien Tudehope.
The changes bring a greater focus on building stronger economic development and business development. The strategy now includes innovation and technology at the highest levels of decision making.
The restructure means that Jobs for NSW is no longer a separate agency, but rather an integrated division within the new Business and Economic Development Unit on Treasury.