Culture of extravagance alive and well
National Party Industrial Relations spokesman Wayne Mapp says a $150,000+ golden handshake at the Department of Labour
shows Labour’s culture of extravagance has reached a new level.
Answers to select committee questions show that one employee at the Department of Labour received a redundancy of
somewhere between $150,000 and $180,000 last year.
Dr Mapp says Paul Swain needs to come clean on the detail of the payment and its recipient.
“This is painfully similar to the Families Commission golden handshake - Labour is clearly stalling on giving any
details of the payouts for fear of political fallout so close to the election.
“What do they have to hide?
“Such a large payment could only be made to a very senior person within the department.
“The disestablishment of the Community Employment Group would throw up some contenders. But speculation will continue to
mount until Mr Swain comes clean.
“In Opposition, Labour talked tough, saying it would put an end to the ‘culture of extravagance’ in the public service.
In Government, they have proven to be all bark and no bite,” says Dr Mapp.
Ends