The Queensland boss of the state’s public transport network resigned after being placed on a secondment a year into the high-paying role, with the department now searching for a replacement as it faces widespread scrutiny for its handling of rail maintenance and ensuing commuter delays.
Deborah Hume was recruited from New Zealand to become deputy director-general of the department’s Translink division in 2025.
She was removed from the role in September and placed in a temporary position within Queensland Rail, according to internal department communications seen by this masthead. Hume then resigned from the department altogether last month citing family reasons.
Hume, who had decades of public transport policy experience across the Tasman, told this masthead the move enabled her to return to New Zealand for “important family milestones”.
Her departure was announced in internal communications to Department of Transport and Main Roads staff.
“Deb Hume has advised that she will be leaving TMR and Queensland to go back to New Zealand in the next couple of months,” the note read.
“Deb will be moving on after her six-month assignment with Queensland Rail concludes, and her last day at work will be 5 March 2026.”
The staffing update comes after TMR director-general Sally Stannard notified the department last year that Hume would be seconded to Queensland Rail.
“To assist in readiness of the rail network for the transformation ahead, I have offered Queensland Rail hands-on support at the most senior level,” Stannard wrote to staff at the time, in a note also seen by this masthead.
“Deb Hume, Deputy Director-General Translink, will be working offline from today to address this time-critical work.”
Dean Helm will continue as acting deputy director-general of network services and operations while TMR searches for Hume’s permanent replacement.
This month, the department advertised a five-year contract for the role, with annual remuneration of almost $390,000.
The department has confirmed the details of Hume’s resignation.
The search for a new public transport network boss comes as the government was criticised for poorly preparing for scheduled rail closures, with hundreds of commuters left queueing on suburban streets this week for replacement buses.
Queensland Rail has blamed an extension of the delays on an industrial dispute.
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James Hall is the News Director at the Brisbane Times. He is the former Queensland correspondent at The Australian Financial Review and has reported for a range of mastheads across the country, specialising on political and finance reporting.Connect via X or email.
