Damien Walker has been appointed as Qld’s Acting Cross-Border Commissioner, following the death in November last year of Commissioner Ian Leavers.
Leavers, a former Qld police union boss, was appointed Qld’s inaugural Cross-Border Commissioner in 2024 under Qld Labor.
Then Labor Premier Steven Miles said at the time: ‘A priority focus for the commissioner will be building disaster management capacity and resilience for Queensland cross-border communities’.
The Local Government Association of Queensland lobbied for the position in 2024, according to www.governmentnews.com.au.
They said, ‘More-than 750,000 people live in the 12 local government areas along the borders that Queensland shares with New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory’.
‘Queensland now joins NSW, Victoria, and South Australia, which also have cross-border commissioners’.
According to www.governmentnews.com.au, Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie said Walker brought a wealth of experience to the key role.
‘Mr Walker has more than 10 years of executive experience leading senior departments across two state governments, including an interim period as the South Australia Cross-Border Commissioner.’
Salary
The salary for Qld’s Cross-Border Commissioner is determined by the Governor in Council (not under the standard Public Sector Act).
And while there was no single public figure released for the 2024 role, the office had a proposed budget of $3.26m over three years.
Similar high-level public service roles in QLD and NSW suggest a significant salary in the hundreds of thousands, with past related NSW Assistant Commissioner roles earning over $200,000.
Functions and objects
According to the Cross-Border Commissioner Act 2024, the main object of the office is to:
(a) enhance stakeholder engagement and facilitate collaboration between the State and relevant jurisdictions in areas of mutual interest relating to cross-border communities; and,
(b) facilitate the identification, and advocate for the resolution, of issues related to residing in cross-border communities that impede regional economic development, community resilience and service delivery.
The main function of the commissioner, according to the Cross-Border Commissioner Act 2024, is to ‘(a) to facilitate the operation of cross-border agreements; and (b) to build effective relationships with —
(i) stakeholders in cross-border communities; and
(ii) stakeholders whose activities affect cross-border communities; and
(c) to enhance stakeholder engagement and facilitate collaboration between the State and a relevant jurisdiction to advocate for—
(i) the resolution of issues affecting cross-border communities; and
(ii) improved access to services for cross-border communities; and
(d) to provide advice to stakeholders in cross-border communities on government policies and programs relevant to cross-border communities; and
(e) to provide advice to the government on issues affecting cross-border communities; and
(f) to perform any other function given to the commissioner under this or another Act.
NSW Office of the Cross-Border Commissioner
According to www.nsw.gov.au The NSW Cross-Border Commissioner is Kalina Koloff, appointed in 2023.
‘Border communities are home to more than 620,000 NSW residents and over 60,000 businesses’.
People living in border areas regard themselves as one community. They may live on one side of the border, in one state, but their everyday lives cross both sides of the border.
Residents often need to comply with rules or policies set by two or more states or territories. This can make day-to-day activities more difficult, and restrict their access to work opportunities, investment, and facilities.
There are 30 NSW local government areas that share a border and strong social and economic ties with their neighbouring state or territory’.
The NSW Office of the Cross Border Commissioner Strategic Plan 2020-2025 outlines within 12 pages their vision and values.
Strategic priorities are Advocacy for and engagement with cross-border communities ; Improving outcomes for cross-border communities and Investing in cross-border communities
Despite the investment pledge, there is no funding attached to that strategic priority. Instead, investment will be ‘encouraged’ through policy frameworks and the like.
There is also a section on measuring their success, with monitoring, assessment, engagement, policy reform and reporting all included as how they evaluate their performance.
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