The wrong head has rolled, will it get a golden handshake?

Grant Gillon MP Wed Sep 1 1999

The Alliance said it is the ineffective State Services commission and the government cronies on the lotteries board that should resign not the Chief Executive of the lotteries commission.

'The wrong head has rolled, it is the people who were responsible for the ludicrous salary package that should go or else it could happen again,' Alliance Internal Affairs spokesperson Grant Gillon said.

'The biggest question now is will he get a golden handshake?

'How much will this fiasco cost the taxpayer? Maurice Williamson has been blaming everyone else apart from his own government over the last few days, but it is his government that has allowed public sector CEO salaries and golden handshakes to get out of control.

'There is no doubt that David Bale was a competent and well liked CEO. The question was whether he was being paid too much. This government has handled this matter appallingly.

'Instead of trying to renegotiate his salary package the government has publicly denounced him, forcing him to resign.

'The government appoints the boards and they approve the guidelines for what is acceptable remuneration though their Ministers.

'The responsibility for such a high salary does not lie with the person who received it but rather the people who paid it to him. This issue is one of accountability of the people who made the decision to pay this salary.

'The Alliance will undertake a full review of the state sector. Too many people are being paid too much at the top end of the scale while at the same time the concept of public service is being eroded by low pay and lower morale at the other end,' Grant Gillon said.

ENDS

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