Embattled NSW treasury secretary Mike Pratt has denied he’s planning an imminent exit from the role, telling staff there is still “so much work left to do” to help the state recover from the pandemic.
In a message sent to staff on Wednesday, Pratt denied a media report that his resignation and the appointment of a successor were being planned. He said, though, he may leave the public service prior to the March 2023 state election.
“I want to let you know that I have been weighing up whether to return to the private sector before the next state election after almost a decade in public service,” Pratt said in his missive to staff. “The timing would enable a smooth transition to a new secretary before the poll.”
Pratt said “only a small number of people were aware of my early thinking. Unfortunately, this information has been prematurely leaked to the media, and I am disappointed with this breach of confidentiality.”
The statement to staff comes a day before Pratt is scheduled to front a NSW upper house inquiry over the finances of the Transport Asset Holding Entity, or TAHE.
The entity, which holds about $40b in rail assets, is at the centre of a standoff between treasury and the state’s auditor general, Margaret Crawford. The state’s audit office this week stated it was refusing to sign off on the state’s 2020-21 financial report “due to significant accounting issues”.
The department and audit office are at odds over whether TAHE should be treated as a commercial operation, with funds from the government treated as expenses or equity investments.
The difference potentially translates into creating a shortfall worth at least $1b a year in the state’s budget, an update of which is planned by new treasurer Matt Kean on Thursday.
Pratt did not mention the TAHE issues in his statement to staff, concluding: “I have always appreciated your support, and in turn, look forward to continuing to support you all in the challenges we handle every day for the people of NSW.”
