Gadd – Bartlett bungle could cost taxpayer $240, 000

NICK MCKIM MP – MEDIA RELEASE

“This FoI documentation makes it clear that the Premier’s ham-fisted and incompetent decision to abolish DEPHA without consulting public sector workers or their unions, created serious friction between his office and a senior public servant, which could cost the taxpayer $240, 000 should Mr Gadd choose to forgo any of the extension or reassignment options.”

“The FoI material also shows that Mr Gadd did have an option to leave immediately but the government could not force him to do so, which again highlights the sheer stupidity of deciding to abolish an entire Department in the knowledge that a contract was about to be renewed,” Mr McKim said.

BARTLETT BUNGLE COULD COST TAXPAYER $240, 000

Should Gadd Decide to Walk

The Tasmanian Greens today said that Premier David Bartlett had to take responsibility for the potential cost to the taxpayer of a $240,000 payout should the former Secretary of the now defunct Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts (DEPHA), Mr Scott Gadd, decide to refuse any extension or reassignment options provided for in his current contract, following revelations contained in documentation released under Freedom of Information provisions.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that the FoI material also contains a letter from the DEPHA Secretary to the Premier in April this year which reopens significant questions over why the Premier decided to offer a three year Departmental secretary renewal contract instead of the standard five years, since it does not appear that the Premier had replied to this correspondence.

“Once again we are seeing how the Premier’s bungling costs the taxpayer, this time to the tune of $240, 000 should the former Secretary to DEPHA decide to refuse an extension to his current transition duties,” Mr McKim said.

“In a document headed ‘Assignment of Functions and Duties’ signed by the Premier in June this year it is clear that should Mr Gadd refuse an extension to the December 2009 assignment expiry date this year, the government will terminate his appointment and provide a payout of $240, 000.”

“This FoI documentation makes it clear that the Premier’s ham-fisted and incompetent decision to abolish DEPHA without consulting public sector workers or their unions, created serious friction between his office and a senior public servant, which could cost the taxpayer $240, 000 should Mr Gadd choose to forgo any of the extension or reassignment options.”

“The FoI material also shows that Mr Gadd did have an option to leave immediately but the government could not force him to do so, which again highlights the sheer stupidity of deciding to abolish an entire Department in the knowledge that a contract was about to be renewed,” Mr McKim said.

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Friday, 14 August 2009
www.tas.greens.org.au