The director general of the New South Wales Cabinet Office, Roger Wilkins, is set to be given the additional role of director general, Ministry for the Arts.

The move links the Australian state's most important cultural institutions, including the New South Wales Film and Television Office (NSWFTO), to the state government's top policy-making body.

Wilkins replaces Evan Williams, who held the post since 1988 and is about to retire. He will remain one of the principal film reviewers on The Australian newspaper.

Meanwhile, Stephen Basil-Jones, managing director of Columbia TriStar Films in Australia, has joined the board of the NSWFTO.