High-profile and long-serving Health Department secretary Jane Halton will be the new head of Finance.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Ms Halton had made a substantial contribution to the development of health policy and programs domestically and internationally.

Ms Halton, who has headed the Health Department since 2002, is to replace Finance department secretary David Tune, who is to retire from his post on Friday.

For more details, go to: http://www.afr.com/p/national/health_department_jane_halton_nabs_uYIfabkxRtzjS7rW5GiHUN