The multi-million dollar Old-Blokes Labor Mates Club

The Tasmanian Government is paying the former secretary of the Department of Treasury and Finance more than $300, 000 to sit on government boards.

A report tabled in state Parliament details payments of more than $3 million to people on more than 130 government boards and taskforces.

Former treasury head Don Challen is the biggest earner, netting $320, 000 for his roles as chairman of Transend, the Tasmanian Public Finance Corporation, the Motor Accidents Insurance Board and as a trustee of the Retirement Benefits Fund.

Other big earners include Bob Annells, who earns $160, 000 as the chairman of Tourism Tasmania and Tasrail.

Forestry Tasmania chairman, Adrian Kloeden, earns $101,000, while Denis Rogers gets $125,000 for his roles with TT-Line and the Tasmanian Development Board.

Earlier on Tasmanian Times: Nugget Combs: The wasteful, greedy aimless public sector gurus’ Henry Jones indulgence

• The Examiner:

REVEALED: Our $6m board bill
BY ROSEMARY BOLGER
21 Sep, 2011 08:33 AM
THE state government is spending at least $6 million a year paying hundreds of people to sit on more than 130 boards, advisory bodies and taskforces.

A list tabled in State Parliament yesterday revealed the names and remuneration for every member of the government-run panels.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST: HERE

The $6 million figure was calculated from the lists of annual fees but does not include the cost of positions where remuneration is based on a daily or sessional rate.

Six positions are worth more than $100,000, two of which are held by former state Treasury boss Don Challen. Mr Challen is chairman of power distributor Transend and the Tasmanian Public Finance Corporation, earning $105,300 for each.

He is also chairman of the Motor Accidents Insurance Board ($75,000) and a trustee of the Retirement Benefits Fund ($35,100).

That takes his total pay packet to more than $300,000.

Tourism Tasmania and TasRail chairman Bob Annells is the next big earner. Including his salary for a role on the Tasmanian Development Board, he gets $160,000 a year.

Denis Rogers is paid $75,000 for chairing the board of TT-Line, which operates the Spirit of Tasmania ferries. He also gets $50,000 as chairman of the Tasmanian Development Board.

Power company Hydro’s chairman is one of the highest-paid individual positions at $105,000 and is held by former treasurer David Crean.

Energy retailer Aurora pays its chairman, John Hasker, the same salary.

Forestry Tasmania chairman Adrian Kloeden collects $101,742, while the rest of his board team are paid $47,000.

The list includes many prominent Tasmanians serving in paid and volunteer roles. Former premier Michael Field, Australian Nurses Federation secretary Neroli Ellis and Unions Tasmania boss Kevin Harkins hold paid positions.

Former premier Jim Bacon’s wife Honey Bacon earns $3600 as a trustee of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Board.

Most boards and councils include public servants, but they do not receive the entitlement on top of their normal salaries.

Full story in The Examiner HERE

First published: 2011-09-21 12:55 PM