Jane Halton
{{short description|Australian public servant}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Jane Halton
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO|PSM|size=100}}
| image = Jane Halton WHO.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption = Jane Halton addresses World Health Organization as president of the 60th World Health Assembly in 2007
| office1 = Secretary of the Department of Finance
| term_start1 = 27 June 2014
| term_end1 = 15 October 2016
| office2 = Secretary of the Department of Health
| term_start2 = 18 September 2013
| term_end2 = 27 June 2014
| office3 = Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing
| term_start3 = January 2002
| term_end3 = 18 September 2013
| birth_name = Sarah Jane Halton
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|01|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Wickwar, Gloucestershire, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| other_names =
| occupation = Public servant
| children = 2 sons
| known_for =
| alma_mater = Australian National University
}}
Sarah Jane "Jane" Halton {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO|PSM}} (born 4 January 1960) is a former senior Australian public servant, current global health leader and former casino board member. She was the head of the Department of Health between January 2002 and June 2014, and the head of the Department of Finance from 2014 to 2016. She has held senior board roles with ANZ Bank, Clayton Utz, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Crown Casino. She was the Independent Chair of COTA Australia (Council on the Ageing) beginning December 2017. In 2020, she was appointed to the Morrison government's National COVID Commission.{{Cite web|title=NATIONAL COVID-19 COORDINATION COMMISSION {{!}} Prime Minister of Australia|url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/national-covid-19-coordination-commission|access-date=2021-09-18|website=www.pm.gov.au|archive-date=10 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410151256/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/national-covid-19-coordination-commission|url-status=dead}}
Halton has held concurrent roles within the gambling and casino industry at the same time she has held senior roles within global health organizations - including the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).{{Cite web |date=2014-02-26 |title=Jane Halton |url=https://www.healthdata.org/about/jane-halton |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation |language=en}} She held these conflicting roles despite IHME estimates that "gambling-related burden of harm was 2.5 times more than diabetes and 3.0 times more than drug use disorder".{{Cite web |title=The epidemiology and impact of gambling disorder and other gambling-related harm |url=https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/the-epidemiology-and-impact-ofgambling-disorder-and-othergambling-related-harm |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=www.who.int |language=en}} Halton has not explained the rationale for holding these competing concurrent roles despite the remuneration from Crown averaging just under AUD 300,000 per year.{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.crownresorts.com.au/getsydmedia/fc03c891-1c33-4566-8ffb-24f1292d3ae4/90daba8e-1d19-477e-b3b3-1a79df35d1c7.pdf?ext=.pdf}}
Background and early life
Halton was born on 4 January 1960 in Wickwar, Gloucestershire, England.{{citation|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/national-affairs-old/people-in-politics/jane-halton|first=Sid|last=Maher|title=Jane Halton|publisher=News Corp Australia|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530183818/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/national-affairs-old/people-in-politics/jane-halton|archivedate=30 May 2012}} She and her family moved to Australia in 1973 when her father, Charles Halton, was recruited from Canada by the Whitlam government to lead the Department of Transport. She has an Honours degree in psychology from the Australian National University.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/28/1023864657707.html|archivedate=30 December 2013|title=The fall girl|date=29 June 2002|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230133456/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/28/1023864657707.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|first=Margo|last=Kingston}}
Career
Halton first joined the Australian Public Service in the Australian Bureau of Statistics.{{cite news|url=http://www.themandarin.com.au/70328-department-of-finance-secretary-jane-halton-resigns/?pgnc=1|website=The Mandarin|date=16 September 2016|first=Stephen|last=Easton|publisher=Private Media|title=Jane jumps: Finance boss Halton calls it quits|access-date=18 September 2016}}
As a Deputy Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Halton was convener of the People Smuggling Taskforce in the Children Overboard Affair.{{sfn|Malone|2006|p=130}}{{cite news|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2002/02/17/reith-and-jane-halton-will-have-to-be-sacrificed/|publisher=Crikey|title=Reith and Jane Halton will have to be sacrificed|date=17 February 2002|archivedate=24 December 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224170613/http://www.crikey.com.au/2002/02/17/reith-and-jane-halton-will-have-to-be-sacrificed/}}
Prime Minister John Howard appointed Halton as Secretary of the new Department of Health and Ageing in January 2002.{{cite news|title=Meet Australia's most powerful public servants|date=31 October 2013|publisher=News Corp Australia|work=News.com.au|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/meet-australias-most-powerful-public-servants/story-fncynjr2-1226750321988|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207115927/http://www.news.com.au/national/meet-australias-most-powerful-public-servants/story-fncynjr2-1226750321988|archivedate=7 December 2013}}{{cite press release|first=John|last=Howard|author-link=John Howard|title=SENIOR APPOINTMENTS - DEPARTMENTAL SECRETARIES|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=12178|archivedate=10 November 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110115014/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=12178|date=18 January 2002}} The Department was reformed as the Department of Health in September 2013, when the Abbott government was elected, and Halton remained at the head. During this time, she was responsible for providing advice to government on issues including the administration of Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and private health insurance, and for implementing a $60 billion budget.{{cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-power-couples--the-cream-of-the-crop-20140621-zs3ts.html|newspaper=The Canberra Times|title=Canberra's power couples - the cream of the crop|date=11 June 2014|publisher=Fairfax Media|archivedate=30 June 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630223028/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-power-couples--the-cream-of-the-crop-20140621-zs3ts.html|first=Matthew|last=Raggatt}} While she was Health Secretary, Halton led the development of the first Memorandum of Understanding between Medicines Australia and the Australian Government, in 2010.{{cite news|url=https://ajp.com.au/news/jane-halton-resigns-thanked-guild/|title=Jane Halton resigns, thanked by stakeholders|first=Megan|last=Haggan|date=16 September 2016|website=AJP.com.au|publisher=APPco Pty Ltd|access-date=18 September 2016}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/industry/useful-resources/memorandum|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801062812/http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/industry/useful-resources/memorandum|archivedate=1 August 2016|title=Memorandum of Understanding with Medicines Australia|date=28 September 2010|publisher=Australian Government}}
In June 2014, Halton was appointed Secretary of the Department of Finance.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/public-service/jane-halton-appointed-head-of-the-department-of-finance-20140626-zsn1q.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Jane Halton appointed head of the Department of Finance|first=Henry|last=Belot|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=26 June 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626234247/http://www.smh.com.au/national/public-service/jane-halton-appointed-head-of-the-department-of-finance-20140626-zsn1q.html|archivedate=26 June 2014}} She identified strengthening the performance framework for measuring the impact of Australian Government programs and services as a priority in the role, with a focus on streamlining and providing a greater level of accountability.{{cite news|url=http://www.themandarin.com.au/11558-exciting-times-jane-halton/?pgnc=1|first=Stephen|last=Easton|date=20 November 2014|title=Jane Halton on central reform from her new Finance fiefdom|newspaper=The Mandarin}} She also emphasized the scope of work harnessing technology to deliver public services more efficiently across government agencies into different platforms. Halton announced her resignation, effective 15 October 2016, on 16 September 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/finance-department-secretary-jane-halton-quits-20160916-grhmqr.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918033144/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/finance-department-secretary-jane-halton-quits-20160916-grhmqr.html|archivedate=18 September 2016|title=Finance Department secretary Jane Halton quits|last=Towell|first=Noel|date=16 September 2016|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=16 September 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pulseitmagazine.com.au/news/movers-and-shakers/3355-lovechild-of-coag-jane-halton-resigns-from-public-service|title="Lovechild of COAG": Jane Halton resigns from public service |first=Kate|last=McDonald|date=16 September 2016|website=Pulse IT Magazine|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917133953/https://www.pulseitmagazine.com.au/news/movers-and-shakers/3355-lovechild-of-coag-jane-halton-resigns-from-public-service|archivedate=17 September 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/mandarin-jane-halton-steps-down-after-33-years-in-public-service/news-story/a12904724c7a0b8cbe4173ff966a0449?login=1|newspaper=The Australian|date=17 September 2016|title=Mandarin Jane Halton steps down after 33 years in public service|first=David|last=Crowe|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=18 September 2016}}
After stepping down as Secretary, she was appointed to the boards of Crown Casino,{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Charlie |date=2020-10-16 |title=Crown casino and the curious case of Jane Halton's lack of curiosity |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2020/10/16/crown-casino-jane-halton-curiosity/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Crikey |language=en-US}} the ANZ Bank{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/financial-services/former-top-federal-public-servant-jane-halton-joins-anz-board/news-story/03ef40971ff11d8a097d6443930091cf|newspaper=The Australian|publisher=News Corp|first=Michael|last=Roddan|date=21 October 2016|title=Former top federal public servant Jane Halton joins ANZ board|accessdate=20 December 2016}} and Vault Systems.{{cite news|url=http://www.afr.com/technology/vault-systems-attract-moelis-former-mandarins-jane-halton-and-dennis-richardson-20171103-gze3wh|newspaper=The Australian Financial Review|publisher=News Corp|first=Carrie|last=LaFrenz|date=6 November 2017|title=Vault Systems attracts Moelis, former mandarins Jane Halton, Dennis Richardson|accessdate=6 December 2017}} While serving on the board of Crown Casino, and for a period as acting chairman, Halton oversaw Crown Resorts’ response to the Finkelstein Royal Commission investigations around its suitability to hold a casino license{{Cite web |date=2022-09-16 |title=Jane Halton 'pressured' by John Alexander to sign Crown letter |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fleadership%2Fjane-halton-pressured-by-john-alexander-to-sign-crown-letter%2Fnews-story%2Fea59bdc38e27b11c84918b59779e00dc&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPB-Segment-2-NOSCORE&V21spcbehaviour=append&nk=b216651d3e0b91f03b7b41a77df51576-1737474707 |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=archive.ph |archive-date=16 September 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220916003729/https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/leadership/jane-halton-pressured-by-john-alexander-to-sign-crown-letter/news-story/ea59bdc38e27b11c84918b59779e00dc |url-status=bot: unknown }} - stemming from failures to mitigate money laundering, strong ties to organized criminal networks, and other serious problems with Crown's corporate governance. Halton held concurrent roles within the gambling and casino industry at the same time she held senior roles in global health organizations. She held these conflicting roles despite the IHME estimates that "gambling-related burden of harm was 2.5 times more than diabetes and 3.0 times more than drug use disorder".
Halton is chair of the global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations{{cite web |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/2020/03/28/exclusive-inside-the-hunt-vaccine/15853140009582 |title=Inside the hunt for a vaccine |first=Rick |last=Morton |date=28 March 2020 |newspaper=The Saturday Paper |accessdate=10 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://cepi.net/about/whoweare/ |title=A global coalition for a global problem |website=Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations |accessdate=10 April 2020}} and in March 2020 was appointed to the executive board of the Australian National COVID-19 Coordination Commission.{{cite press release |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/national-covid-19-coordination-commission |title=National COVID-19 Coordination Commission |date=25 March 2020 |website=Prime Minister of Australia |accessdate=10 April 2020 |archive-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410151256/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/national-covid-19-coordination-commission |url-status=dead }}
Awards and honours
Halton was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2002 and the Centenary Medal in 2003.{{citation|url=http://www.cdesign.com.au/aapmqip2013/speakers.html|title=IHCC Speakers: Official Opening—Ms Jane Halton|publisher=AAPM & QIP|date=2013|access-date=27 January 2014|archive-date=26 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126153635/http://www.cdesign.com.au/aapmqip2013/speakers.html|url-status=dead}}
In 2014, she was ranked number eight in The Australian Women's Weekly Power List of Australia's 50 most powerful women.{{cite news|url=http://www.aww.com.au/news-features/power-list/profiles/jane-halton/|title=Jane Halton: Secretary of the Department of Finance|publisher=Bauer Media Group|newspaper=The Australian Women's Weekly|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125094443/http://www.aww.com.au/news-features/power-list/profiles/jane-halton/|archivedate=25 November 2014|url-status=live}}
Halton was created an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/queens-birthday-honours-finance-departments-jane-halton-leads-way-for-women-20150608-ghha61|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=8 June 2015|first=Markus|last=Mannheim|title=Queen's Birthday honours: Finance Department's Jane Halton leads way for women}} She was made an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS) in 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aahms.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/AAHMS_Fellowship_October-2015.pdf|title=Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Health & Medical Sciences - October 2015|website=Australian Academy of Health & Medical Sciences|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128134830/http://www.aahms.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/AAHMS_Fellowship_October-2015.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Notes
References and further reading
{{refbegin}}
- {{citation|last=Malone|first=Paul|title=Australian department heads under Howard : career paths and practice|date=2006|url=http://epress.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dept_heads_whole.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106031526/http://epress.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dept_heads_whole.pdf|pages=129–136|chapter=Chapter 19: Taking the ‘Hospital Pass’ – Jane Halton, Department of Health and Ageing |location=Canberra|publisher=The Australian National University|isbn=1-920942-83-1|archivedate=6 November 2013}}
{{refend}}
{{s-start}}
{{S-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=David Tune}}
{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the
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{{s-aft|after=Rosemary Huxtable}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the
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{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halton, Jane}}
Category:Australian National University alumni
Category:English emigrants to Australia
Category:Officers of the Order of Australia
Category:Recipients of the Public Service Medal (Australia)
Category:Secretaries of the Australian Government Health Department
Category:Secretaries of the Australian Department of Finance
Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences