Reserve Bank of Australia Annual Report – 1979 Staff

During the year, activity and the consequent pressure of work increased in many areas of the Bank. The Board expresses its appreciation of the manner in which staff have responded and for their continued loyalty and efficiency.

The staff of the Bank numbered 3,565 at 30 June 1979. This compares with 3,589 at 30 June 1978 and 3,646 at 30 June 1977. The figures for June 1979 in the table below include a total of 159 officers on long service, confinement, maternity and other extended leave. Continuing changes in procedures at the Note Printing Works at Fitzroy. Victoria again contributed to the overall reduction in staff numbers recorded in 1978/79; otherwise, staff levels were generally steady.

Requests continue to be received from within Australia and overseas for secondments of staff and these play an important role in career development processes. During the year, officers commenced or continued secondments abroad with the Bank of Papua New Guinea, the Asian Development Bank, the Solomon Islands Monetary Authority, the International Monetary Fund in Washington and, through the IMF, with the Monetary Authority of Swaziland and the Nepal Rastra Bank. A number of officers were on secondment to Commonwealth and State government departments and instrumentalities, including three with the Secretariat of the Committee of Inquiry into the Australian Financial System; several officers spent short periods attached to trading banks for training purposes.

Mr R.A. Johnston, an Adviser, resumed duty with the Bank in July 1979 after serving as an executive director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, representing Australia, Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Western Samoa. Mr L.W. Woodbury resumed in January following completion of his assignment as Deputy Governor, Bank of Papua New Guinea.

In January 1979 the Treasurer announced the appointment of Mr J.S. Mallyon, who at that time was Chief Manager, Banking and Finance Department, as a member of the Committee of Inquiry into the Australian Financial System.

During the last twelve months Mr R.C. Cooper, C.B.E., Manager for Queensland, Mr M.F.W. Brown, Chief Manager (Research and Development), Note Issue Department, Fitzroy and Mr S.C. Done, Manager for the Australian Capital Territory, have retired. Mr W.G. Moore, Manager for Victoria, will retire in September 1979.