A department described as “troubled” confirms it has appointed a third permanent boss following a closed-door hiring process. Multiple reports say the appointment involves Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber’s top bureaucrat, indicating the minister is associated with the selection of the senior public service role. The coverage describes the appointment as the first in a series of planned changes to senior public service positions. Sources characterize the move as part of broader efforts by the Liberal National Party (LNP) to strengthen the highest ranks of the public service. The reporting across outlets focuses on the timing and significance of the third permanent appointment, linking it to internal workforce and leadership stability concerns within the department. While the articles describe the political context and the department’s challenges, they do not provide consistent additional operational details in the provided excerpts. Overall, all sources present the appointment as a significant staffing decision for the department, made through a closed-door process and framed publicly as an early step in anticipated broader personnel moves in senior public service roles.