Malcolm Macgregor Summers Explained

Malcolm Macgregor Summers
Office1:Secretary of the Department of Transport
Term Start1:1973
Term End1:1973
Office2:Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Transport
Term Start2:1969
Term End2:1972
Birth Name:Malcolm Macgregor Summers
Birth Place:Queensland
Death Date:September 1987 (aged 62)
Occupation:Public servant
Nationality: Australian
Spouse:Betty (d. 1972)
Children:Kim, Nick and Catriona

Malcolm Macgregor Summers (1924September 1987) was a senior Australian public servant. He is best known for his time as Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Transport from 1969 to 1972.

Life and career

Summers was born in Queensland in 1925.[1] He joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1941 and moved to Canberra in the early 1950s to work for the Burueau of Census and Statistics.[1]

In March 1969, Summers was appointed Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Transport, a promotion from his position as deputy secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.[2] In the role, he worked to set up the Bureau of Transport Economics and brought in new funding arrangements for national highways, rail, urban transport, shipping and road safety.[1] The department's involvement in policy issues increased substantially during the time that Summers was its secretary.[3]

In December 1972, the department was reformed as the Department of Transport. Summers was Secretary until late 1973 when then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam announced he was to become the sole Commissioner of a Commonwealth Inquiry into the maritime industry.[4]

Summers retired in 1976 due to ill health.[1]

He died in 1987. His wife Betty had died in 1972.[1]

Awards

Summers was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1976 for his public service.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Obituary: Mr Malcolm Macgregor Summers: Head of former Shipping and Transport. 1 October 1987. 6. The Canberra Times. ACT.
  2. News: Secretary appointed. 5 March 1969. 8. The Canberra Times. ACT.
  3. News: New position in transport. 29 April 1971. 8. The Canberra Times. ACT. Bruce. Juddery. Bruce Juddery.
  4. News: Canadian to head amalgam of DCA, Transport. 26 September 1973. 1. Gay. Davidson. The Canberra Times. ACT.
  5. News: Four Knights among fifty awards in A.C.T.. The Canberra Times. ACT. 12 June 1976. 8.