The Rann Government had appointed their new favourite “power couple” Margaret Wagstaff and Phillip Bentley to at least six Government boards and committees in recent years.
“These appointments came in addition to the lucrative consultancies of $80,000 for four months work given to Ms Wagstaff by Minister Jennifer Rankine,” Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said today.
“The Rann Government’s Register of Boards and Committees for 30 June 2008 shows the following appointments:
Power Couple Board/Committee Position Remuneration ($)
Margaret Wagstaff Social Inclusion Board Member 9050 pa
Boundary Adjustment Facilitation Panel Chair 190/meeting
SA Strategic Plan Community Engagement Board Member 160/meeting
Phillip Bentley WorkCover Corporation Board of SA Member 32660 pa
(Appointed Chair as of 30/06/2008 Chair 65320 pa)
Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Advisory Committee Member 6900 pa
WorkCover Corporation of SA Board of Management Workplace Injury Committee Chair 9798 pa
WorkCover Corporation of SA Board of Investment and Finance Committee Member 4899 pa
Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee Member 160/meeting
“In addition, Mr Bentley received an industry appointment as Chair of Thoroughbred Racing SA, paying about $44,000 per annum, which was certainly not hurt by his known association with senior figures in the Rann Government, including Premier Mike Rann!
“Mr Rann should now reveal publicly whether any other consultancies or appointments have been given to Ms Wagstaff or Mr Bentley – Mr Rann’s new favourite power couple – in the interests of transparency and accountability,” he said.
“However, Mr Rann’s previous favourite power couple – Nick Bolkus and Mary Patetsos – are still very well represented on the Rann Government’s Register of Boards and Committees:
Power Couple Board/Committee Position Remuneration ($)
Mary Patetsos SA Housing Trust Board of Management Member 18700 pa
SA Local Government Grants Commission Member 13570 pa
Public Space Advisory Committee Member 140/meeting
SA Affordable Housing Trust Board of Management Member 9500 pa
Nick Bolkus Playford North Steering Committee Chair 12100 pa
“Mr Rann needs to explain to taxpayers why they should spend about $100,000 per annum to Ms Wagstaff and Mr Bentley and also a further $60,000 per annum to Ms Patetsos and Mr Bolkus.
“A complete analysis of this Register of Rann Government Appointments shows a long list of “Labor Mates” and associates including ex-Labor Members of Parliament, ex-Labor staffers and known Labor Party members and supporters.
“Some of these names include ex-Labor Members of Parliament such as Carolyn Pickles, Terry Groom, Martyn Evans, Anne Levy, Ron Roberts, Geoff Buckland, Rosemary Crowley, Greg Crafter and Frank Blevins.
“Taxpayers want to know why Mr Rann wants to appoint so many “Labor Mates” and associates to so many highly paid positions on Government boards and committees.”