Canberra is mourning the loss of one of its giants of public administration: Bill Harris, the unsung hero of the transition to self-government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tributes are pouring in for the former public service chief, who died suddenly on Wednesday aged 76.
The ACT's first chief minister, Rosemary Follett, said Mr Harris's contribution to developing the territory was critical and he was owed "an enormous debt of gratitude".
Mr Harris headed the then ACT Administration during its formative years and put in place the structure of government that has endured for the territory's almost three decades of self-government.
Ms Follett said Mr Harris's efforts in those difficult early days could not be overestimated.
"When self-government came, he was absolutely crucial in getting the whole process of government underway and his contribution was invaluable," Ms Follett said.
"It really is hard to estimate it because of his knowledge, his ability and his willingness to carry on in what were extremely difficult circumstances.
"The ACT owes him an enormous debt of gratitude."
As the first chief executive of the ACT Administration, Mr Harris and his team were faced with the task of bringing together functions scattered over 26 Commonwealth departments and agencies and bringing them into one administration.
He devised in the lead-up to self-government a system of modular functional structures, which could be easily joined or detached, making it relatively easy for functions to be moved between ministries.
The model proved remarkably durable over the following decades.
Ms Follett said Mr Harris, a former senior federal public servant, inspired affection as well as respect among his colleagues.
"Personally he was a wonderful man to work with: he was kind, good humoured, extremely knowledgeable and unflappable which was a huge asset in those early days," she said.
"He was quite a modest person though, I don't really remember him ever standing on ceremony a great deal or being unapproachable.
"I think we've got a public service to be very very proud of and that's largely down to Bill, I'm very sad to hear that he's passed away, I was very fond of him."
Former senior ACT public servant and businessman John Mackay described his former colleague as "the best of the best".
"When I was a federal public servant I worked with lots of bright and dedicated people, none more so than Bill Harris," Mr Mackay said.
"He was one of the most astute executives I ever worked with.
"He was bright, astute and a lot of fun to be with."
Mr Harris married twice and had two children and two grandchildren.
