There will be room at the top, sending some of Canberra’s senior public servants into a spree of jostling and favour-garnering as a number of government executive positions open up.

Several senior bureaucrats were dumped by the incoming government in September last year, leaving a void in internal leadership.

The abrupt dismissal of Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson, Agriculture secretary Andrew Metcalfe, Resources, Energy and Tourism secretary Blair Comley and Innovation, Industry, Science and Research secretary Don Russell have all left spots to fill, with reports say it has triggered re-shuffling efforts across the top of multiple departments.

The sting from the treatment of the four secretaries has not yet faded, with Westpac chairman and former Treasury secretary Ted Evans saying they will be difficult to replace.

“It’s a great pity, we can’t afford to lose people of that quality,” Mr Evans has told the AFR.

“It’s hard enough to get top-class people in Canberra these days. To see them treated in a political fashion is more than disappointing; it’s sad for the country, frankly.”

The decision to remove the top nation’s economic mandarin was made by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and despite Dr Parkinson since developing a strong relationship with Treasurer Joe Hockey he says he will still be out the door soon.

Former Treasury secretary Ken Henry said criticism of the aptitude of the treasury’s forecasts by Joe Hockey was unwarranted. 

“I was disappointed to see the attacks. I know how difficult it is to produce economic forecasts,” Mr Henry told the ABC.

“A department is unable to defend itself in public if it is attacked by a politician.”

He also opened fire on the PM’s decision.

“No government has ever thought it appropriate to remove the head of the Treasury and put in someone who is ... of a more comfortable political character,” he said.

“Now, I'm not saying that is what has motivated the Prime Minister on this occasion, it may be, but I really don't know.

“But if that is what's intended, that would be a very disappointing move and quite a historic one.”

The vacancies of the four secretaries will turn into a potential leadership dearth later this year, as the contract terms of finance secretary David Tune, head of the Attorney-General’s department Roger Wilkins, infrastructure department head Mike Mrdak and long-serving Health Department head Jane Halton will all expire around the middle of this year.

One public servant’s sacking may be another’s opportunity, and reports say lobbying for the jobs is heating up already.