William Allan McKinnon (23 February 1931 – 10 December 1988) was a senior Australian public servant. He was

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

of the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs between 1983 and 1987.

Early life

Bill McKinnon was born on 23 February 1931.

Career

As General Manager, later Director, of the Australian Industry Development Corporation between 1972 and 1976, McKinnon played a major role establishing and developing the corporation. He moved to the Industries Assistance Commission in 1976, serving there as deputy chairman and then chairman. McKinnon was appointed Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in 1983. As head of the Immigration department, he oversaw transition of immigration considerations to an environment where the department was more concerned with the economic viability of immigrants. In 1987, McKinnon lost his job as head of the department, perhaps due to his role in the approval of Australian residency for Taj El-Din Hilaly, a prominent Sydney Sunni Muslim leader.

Paul Keating Paul John Keating (born 18 January 1944) is an Australian former politician and unionist who served as the 24th prime minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996, holding office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He previously ser ...

had personally approved Sheik Hilali's residency while Acting Prime Minister during a period that Prime Minister Bob Hawke was away. McKinnon went from his Secretary role into a position as the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Awards

McKinnon was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in December 1982.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKinnon, Bill 1931 births 1988 deaths Australian public servants Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Secretaries of the Australian Government Immigration Department High Commissioners of Australia to New Zealand