2 years ago
NAIF CHAIR - ANOTHER JOB FOR ANOTHER MORRISON MATE
Murray Watt MP
The Morrison Government has done what it does best, appointing another mate to the highly paid job of Chair of the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
Under the cover of lockdowns across Northern Australia, National Party Minister Keith Pitt has appointed former Country Liberal Party candidate Tracey Hayes as the new Chair of the NAIF Board - a part-time role paid nearly $120,000 per year.
The NAIF, which oversees $5 billion to invest in projects across Northern Australia, has long been mired in conflict of interest scandals and has comprehensively failed to get money out the door.
After more than five years, only $342 million has been released from the fund, less than seven per cent of its $5 billion budget.
It should be no surprise the Minister has appointed another Nationals mate, given the recruitment process for this highly-paid role was a sham. At recent Senate Estimates hearings, Departmental officials revealed:
Under the cover of lockdowns across Northern Australia, National Party Minister Keith Pitt has appointed former Country Liberal Party candidate Tracey Hayes as the new Chair of the NAIF Board - a part-time role paid nearly $120,000 per year.
The NAIF, which oversees $5 billion to invest in projects across Northern Australia, has long been mired in conflict of interest scandals and has comprehensively failed to get money out the door.
After more than five years, only $342 million has been released from the fund, less than seven per cent of its $5 billion budget.
It should be no surprise the Minister has appointed another Nationals mate, given the recruitment process for this highly-paid role was a sham. At recent Senate Estimates hearings, Departmental officials revealed:
- There was no competitive process for the appointment;
- The Minister decided not to engage an external recruitment consultant; and
- Potential candidates were selected solely by the Minister and his office.
It is unbelievable that the Government would use an ongoing crisis, when much of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland are all facing lockdowns, to sneak through this announcement.
They have once again shown they care more about looking after their mates than delivering for Northern Australia.