Premier Rann’s decision to appoint a ‘Labor mate’ and factional heavyweight to the WorkCover Board showed how arrogant and out of touch Mr Rann had become.
Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today that Mr Rann was about to appoint Peter Malinauskas, State Secretary of the powerful right wing union, the Shop and Distributive Allied Employees’ Association, to the WorkCover Board.
Mr Lucas said that total remuneration for the Board position is estimated to be between $40,000 and $50,000 per annum.
“It is almost unbelievable that at a time when WorkCover is facing a crisis and an unfunded liability of almost $1 billion that Mr Rann can believe the solution is to appoint another ‘Labor mate’ to the Board,” Mr Lucas said.
“It is clear that Mr Rann is determined not to be embarrassed again by a key Board member resigning (as Janet Giles did) in protest of his actions between now and the 2010 state election.
“As one of the key powerbrokers in the Labor Party’s ruling right wing faction, Mr Malinauskas is expected by the Government to be a strong supporter of its policies on the Board.
“WorkCover Board appointments are far too important to be treated as the personal playthings for Mr Rann and his ‘factional bosses’.
“Mr Rann today stands condemned for his arrogance,” he said.
“There are plenty of workers out there who would be prepared to represent workers on the Board for up to $50,000 per year!”