Economy
Spinning out of control (1)
TASMANIAN taxpayers are forking out more than $9 million for government spin doctors, advisers and helpers as the budget heads for a million-dollar blowout, new documents reveal.
It is understood the Premier’s new chief-of-staff Mark Sayer has been charged with reining in spin-doctor spending which already has been blown by $600,000 this financial year and is heading for a $1.2 million blowout if spending continues.
The total cost of advisers and support staff across all ministers, including the Government Media Unit, is more than $9.3 million for more than 112 people.
The Government Media Unit alone costs $1.2 million and employs more than 15 full-time equivalent staff.
Premier David Bartlett has 20 advisers at a cost of $1.8 million — a drop from $2.1 million two years ago.
Greens ministers Nick McKim and Cassy O’Connor both have about six staff at a cost of $530,000. That does not include staff in the Greens’ office, which is separate.
Newest minister Brian Wightman has eight staff costing $610,000.
In comparison, Lin Thorp, who has control of 45 per cent of the public service and almost a half of the $4.3 billion State Budget, has just eight staff at a cost of $620,000.
The total amount spent on advisers equates to 12 staff and $1 million per minister.
The Liberal Opposition employs 10 full-time employees for its 11 MPs at a cost of $850,000.
Each Liberal MP also gets an electoral assistant, costing about $50,000 each, which is not accounted for in the $850,000.
…
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Tasmania’s state public service numbers had swelled by 7.2 per cent in the past year.
Nationally, public service growth was just 2 per cent.
WHERE THE TOP DOLLARS GO:
MARK SAYER, Premier’s chief of staff, $192,094
ROD SCOTT, Premier’s senior political adviser, $173,633
GARY SWAIN, Bryan Green’s Head of Office, $166,398
SEAN TERRY, Premier’s senior adviser, $144,694
WENDY SPENCER, Premier’s senior adviser, $136,789
ROSS SMITH, Lara Giddings’ senior adviser, $131,864
DAVID BAILEY, Treasury adviser (retiring end of 2010), $131,864
TERRY McCARTHY, Lin Thorp’s Head of Office, $131,864
DAVID NICHOLSON, Michelle O’Byrne acting Head of Office, $119,876
ANDREW PERRY, Nick McKim’s Head of Office, $119,876
LEANNE MINSHULL, Cassy O’Connor’s Head of Office, $119,876
DENISE McINTYRE, Brian Wightman’s Head of Office, $119,876
JOSH BRADSHAW, David O’Byrne’s Head of Office, $119,876
ROHAN WADE, North and North-West Head of Office, $119,876
On Tasmanian Times, March 2009: $9m bill for ministerial inders
Meanwhile:
The Mercury
Tue 4 Jan 2011
WATER BODY UNDER ATTACK
A Hobart City Council alderman has warned ratepayers to brace themselves for more financial pain from Southern Water.
Alderman Jeff Briscoe said it appeared Southern Water’s sole purpose was to make money, rather than provide services to residents.
“In essence, Southern Water collects a tax, with little or no benefit for Hobart residents,” he said, adding southern councils should consider reclaiming control over water and sewerage.
(On page 10 of today’s Mercury, not yet online)