Challenge to end our Dark Age

Sue Neales Mercury Comment

Just as important, though, in Bartlett’s gamut of proposals was a little-publicised promise to crack down on the way appointments are made to the boards of directors governing various Tasmanian government bodies, authorities and corporate entities. The Premier said he wanted to bring an end to the perception that appointment to the boards of government entities such as Hydro Tasmania, TT-Line and Tote Tasmania was a “closed club” ensuring “jobs for the boys”. Mr Bartlett might be hard-pressed arguing that the problem is one only of perception. For example, former Labor premier Michael Field has been chairman of the Government’s Tasmanian Innovations Advisory Board since 1999. Former Treasurer David Crean is chairman of Hydro Tasmania. And the Supreme Court heard last year that former Labor health minister John White not only was awarded a lucrative monopoly to provide builder accreditation services on behalf of the Government, but asked to become Tasmanian Governor as well. There are also a myriad of brothers, sisters, wives, husbands and partners of government politicians or senior public servants who appear to effortlessly gain work in government offices, driving ministerial cars or running government organisations without always possessing the necessary skills and experience. Read more here