Kas PAUL
-
1973
Alumni Profiles
Description
Born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia I am of Lithuanian heritage hence my long full name. I normally use Kas Paul as the shortened form. My first military experience came as a Cadet Under Officer in Army Cadets at High School. I then on 26 January 1971 enlisted direct into the RA Survey Corps serving initially as a Sapper with 2 Fd Svy Sqn before going to OCS Portsea in 1973.
After graduation, I returned to the Survey Corps with a posting to 4 Fd Svy Sqn in Adelaide and then from 1976 as Officer Commanding of the Army Map Depot at Bandiana, Victoria. In 1978, I transferred into the Military Police for duty in Townsville with 1 MP Coy as PL COMD, 13 MP Pl supporting 3 Brigade. Courses completed in this time included the Special Investigation Branch Primary Investigation Course and Basic Parachuting. From 1979-80 appointed as Officer Commanding General Duties Military Police in Nth QLD and promoted to Captain.
Subsequently sent to Canberra in 1981 for Project Officer duties at the Directorate of Military Police to assist with introduction of Security Guards and guard dogs into Army. Met and married Margaret that same year – she was born in Captains Flat, NSW so it seemed appropriate that we wedded when I was a Captain. While still in Canberra, also served for a year at Army Office as a SO3 with the Directorate General of Army Development.
Next posted to Sydney in 1983 as 2IC of 2 MP Coy before being made Commandant of the Defence Force Corrective Establishment with a 6 months charter to address serious issues which had arisen at the unit. Among the follow up action taken, I identified an urgent need for a new purpose built centre and initiated planning for its construction. This was later built at Holsworthy bringing detention of ADF members at the facility into modern times.
After a period acting as OC of 2 MP Coy, I was posted to Melbourne in 1985 as OC 3 MP Coy and promoted Major. Some notable policing activities that required particular care from me at the time were events such as the Russell Street bombing when Victoria Police also sought MP assistance in the immediate aftermath given the chaos in the city, participation with security for a high profile royal visit to Puckapunyal and having to directly confront and eject a large number of unruly civilian demonstrators from the Watsonia Barracks Open Day in 1986 which gained national media attention.
Returning to Army Office in 1987, I was employed in SO2 positions at the Directorate of Organisations, Directorate General of Army Training (requiring my annual travel to the UK and US to validate cost of overseas courses), and finally Directorate of Establishments before resigning in January 1991. However, I stayed for another year on Army Reserve full-time service with DESTB-A.
In January 1992, I commenced employment with the ACT Chief Minister’s Department administering employment and training grants for labour market programs. At the same time, given my MP background I was separately appointed as an Inspector of Agents to assist and advise whenever required the Department’s Agents Section on searching for and seizing records and regarding the enforcement of other regulatory matters that involved Business, Travel and Real Estate Agents. After time spent managing some of the grants programs, I moved on to coordinate general human resources and corporate matters for the Department of Business, the Arts, Sport and Tourism. Then from 1997 to 2000, I worked as a Departmental Liaison Officer to ACT Ministers, including the Chief Minister.
At the end of 2000, I joined the ACT Government’s Cabinet Office as the Assistant Manager, Inter-Governmental Relations. My responsibilities included coordinating the ACT’s involvement with the Federal and other State and Territory Governments on key national meetings such as the Council of Australian Governments and also in regard to international obligations, treaties and trade agreements. A regular joint meeting was also held with HQ ADF to address local matters coming under the ACT Government affecting Defence and its members.
In 2002 and until my retirement in 2012, I remained in the ACT Cabinet Office but became Manager, Assembly Liaison. I worked direct to the ministerial Manager of Government Business to facilitate government sitting business in the ACT Parliament. I had to develop annual sitting patterns for agreement by the Government and other Legislative Assembly parties and set the program for each sitting period. I also maintained an operations room during the sittings to monitor and coordinate parliamentary business and to provide immediate support to Government Members on the floor of the Parliament as needed. This made me the link between all ministerial offices, government departments and parliamentary staff to ensure progression of scheduled business on the daily program.
Outside of sitting weeks, I provided wide reporting of sitting business outcomes to the Government and agencies and also coordinated any follow up required on parliamentary matters. These included commitments made by ministers, government responses to Assembly Committee inquiries and ACT Auditor-General reports, and replies to questions on notice and question time answers. Other important responsibilities I had included administration of the Territory’s Administrative Arrangements Orders and working to the ACT Chief Minister to develop annual legislation programs for the Government’s consideration.
In 2004, I received a Public Service award and acknowledgement from the Chief Minister for my effort in supporting the management of government business in the Legislative Assembly and with assisting the passage of key legislation. Further acknowledgements were made in the ACT Parliament by the Manager of Government Business at the end of the 2005 and 2006 sitting years. On my retirement, I was honoured to be recognised by speeches made by all Legislative Assembly parties on the last sitting day in 2012. A framed extract of the Hansard record of the comments was formally presented to me by the head of the ACT Public Service.
After I left full-time military service in 1992, I re-joined the active Army Reserve in 1994 as Provost-Marshal of HQ 2 Division. At the end of 1995, I was promoted LTCOL and became a Project Officer on the Reserve Staff Group at Army Office until my civilian employment duties required a transfer to the Standby Reserve.
I have two offspring, Matthew 29 and Katrina 32. Both my wife and son are EL’s in the Commonwealth Public Service. Currently, I am enjoying retirement and especially do not miss the substantial political pressures, sensitivities and constant urgent deadlines from the Parliamentary environment. Having said that, there is still plenty to do now and I am amazed that I ever found the time to go to work!
