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The top echelon of Queensland’s public service has undergone only its second major internal reshuffle since the Crisafulli government’s initial overhaul of senior bureaucrats in late 2024.
Chris Lamont, the former NSW Small Business Commissioner parachuted in to head the new customer services-focused department under minister Steve Minnikin, has left the top role.
Replacing him in an acting capacity is a long-term senior public servant from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, David Sinclair – an associate director-general heading its implementation arm.
While yet to be formally announced, Sinclair’s new acting gig was flagged in an update to the Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business Department website on Wednesday.
Lamont will instead be “exchanged” into the premier and cabinet department ranks, in what a government spokesperson said was part of a “senior executive mobility arrangement”.
“Mr Lamont commenced at DPC on 7 April 2026 and will assist with delivering whole-of-government policy and economic priorities,” the spokesperson said.
“During this time Mr Sinclair will act in the role of Director General, CDSB.”
No additional detail, including around the permanency, length or reason for the exchange, was given by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, or the offices of Minnikin and Premier David Crisafulli.
Along with small and family business schemes, the department, and – ultimately – Minnikin, is responsible for Smart Service Queensland, the primary contact point for government services.
It also holds key whole-of-government support responsibilities spanning payroll, finance, human resources, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence, and the state’s digital licence app.
Lamont’s shift is only the second internal move of a permanent director-general since the October 2024 election, the fallout of which saw 10 directors-general depart their roles.
He was appointed director-general of the Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business department less than a fortnight after the November 2024 swearing-in.
The only other instance of such an internal shift away from a top department role has been former youth justice boss Bob Gee – now the Cross Border Commissioner after two temporary roles.
Remaining departures since have only been due to illness (former police commissioner Steve Gollschewski) or retirement from the public service (former local government boss Linda Dobe).
Department heads sacked by government before the end of their five-year contracts are required to be paid often six-figure termination benefits. Resignations, or reassignments, do not attract this.
“Chris brings a wealth of small business experience and expertise in government, commercial and not-for-profit sector,” Minnikin said in social media posts at the time of his appointment.
“Together we’ll be working with dedicated teams to create Australia’s most customer service-focused government.”
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