Bruce Hamilton (public servant)

Bruce Hamilton CBE
Secretary of the Department of Social Services
In office 1 January 1966 – 19 December 1972
Secretary of the Department of Social Security
In office 20 December 1972 – 9 January 1973
Personal details
Born	Leslie Bruce Hamilton 4 July 1911 Nook, Tasmania
Died	12 June 1989 (aged 77) Acton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Amy Mary Adam (m. 1936–1975; her death) Isobel Elizabeth Dahl (m. 1976–1989; his death)
Parents	George Hamilton and Margaret Ann, née Peters
Occupation	Public servant

Leslie Bruce Hamilton CBE (4 July 1911 – 12 June 1989) was a senior Australian public servant and head of the Department of Social Services (later Social Security) between 1966 and 1973.

Life and career

Bruce Hamilton was born in Nook, Tasmania on 4 July 1911 to parents George Hamilton and Margaret Ann, née Peters.^[1]

Hamilton began his Australian Public Service career in 1939 as Army Paymaster for Tasmania.^[2] He moved to Canberra in 1940.^[1][2]

On 1 January 1966, Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Department of Social Services.^[3] When the Whitlam Government was elected, the department was abolished and the new Department of Social Security established.^[4] Hamilton was Secretary of the new department for less than a month before he retired.^[5] During his time as head of the Social Services department, Hamilton broadened the department's scope by introducing legislation for deserted wives, for home care and for emergency relief.^[2]

Hamilton died on 12 June 1989 at the Royal Canberra Hospital.^[1]

Awards

Hamilton was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1966 whilst a First Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Treasury.^[6] In June 1972 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire during his time as Director-General of the Social Services Department.^[7]

References

1. Crichton, Pam, "Hamilton, Leslie Bruce (1911–1989)", Australian Dictionary of Biography (Australian National University), archived from the original on 23 April 2014
2. "Obituary: Bruce Hamilton Menzies' 'two-star general'". The Canberra Times. 12 July 1989. p. 23.
3. CA 32: Department of Social Services, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 April 2014
4. CA 1482: Department of Social Security, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 April 2014
5. "PS officer to retire". The Canberra Times. 9 January 1973. p. 3.
6. "Search Australian Honours: HAMILTON, Leslie Bruce", itsanhonour.gov.au (Australian Government), archived from the original on 23 April 2014
7. "Search Australian Honours: HAMILTON, Leslie Bruce", itsanhonour.gov.au (Australian Government), archived from the original on 23 April 2014