DAMIEN BROWN, Mercury

WHEN his department ceases to exist next Wednesday, there will be something else for Scott Gadd to do.

But Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts Minister Michelle O’Byrne just isn’t sure what.

Ms O’Byrne told a Budget estimates hearing yesterday she had a range of tasks she wanted Mr Gadd to do during the rest of his three-year, $240,000 per annum contract, but his role still had not been finalised.

Greens MP Cassy O’Connor said Mr Gadd would become “another highly paid government employee on the payroll, just floating around not doing anything”.

There was criticism last week that senior bureaucrats had been moved to minor positions but were still on $200,000-plus salaries. Read more here