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Victoria\u2019s Ombudsman is being urged to investigate an alleged jobs-for-mates culture in the Andrews government after former cabinet minister Martin Foley was this week appointed to his second public chairmanship.<\/p>\n
Foley, who was health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, was appointed chair of Alfred Health in July. This week he began as chair of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation, a role that could attract a six-figure taxpayer-funded salary.<\/p>\n
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Martin Foley in June 2020 in his then role as mental health minister, with Premier Daniel Andrews.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Joe Armao<\/cite><\/p>\n Shadow minister of state David Davis wrote to Ombudsman Deborah Glass on Friday to argue there was an emerging trend of \u201cpeople with a political affiliation\u201d being appointed as directors and chairs of Victorian public entities. Glass is currently investigating the politicisation of the Victorian public service.<\/p>\n \u201cWe therefore respectfully request that the scope of your [ongoing] investigation into the politicisation of the public service be expanded,\u201d Davis wrote.<\/p>\n Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the government giving taxpayer-funded jobs to \u201cLabor mates\u201d was not how Victoria should be run.<\/p>\n \u201cHardworking Victorians deserve to know on what basis these important appointments are made and that they are not gifts from the premier to his political allies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Foley and the Ombudsman\u2019s office were contacted for comment.<\/p>\n A 2022 analysis found that 12 per cent of plum board roles in Victoria were held by political appointees, according to the centrist Grattan Institute, and that most of those appointees had ties to Labor.<\/p>\n Since that analysis was done, Foley and his former cabinet colleague, Lisa Neville, were appointed to health boards and former Brumby government minister Bob Cameron was announced as chair of WorkSafe Victoria.<\/p>\n The Age <\/em>does not suggest the appointments weren\u2019t made on merit, only that the appointees have links to the Labor Party.<\/p>\n Grattan Institute chief executive Danielle Wood <\/strong>said more could be done in Victoria to boost the transparency around public boards, including more thorough advertising of vacant positions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe recommended that all these significant roles be advertised, that they be looked at by a panel which includes senior public servants \u2013 probably the public service commissioner \u2013 and that a merit list be prepared by that panel,\u201d she said. \u201cThen the relevant minister and then cabinet for a decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThe point is [the public is] worried about any type of appointment that favours a mate. The purpose should be that merit is front and centre in decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday defended his former colleague\u2019s appointment, arguing it was subject to the usual cabinet process and pointing out Foley was also a former arts minister.<\/p>\n The premier also used question time to suggest cabinet would soon appoint a former Liberal minister, who served under premiers Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine, to a public board.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll wait to see how many other people … will remain being appointed on merit as the year unfolds,\u201d Andrews said.<\/p>\n A government spokeswoman said: \u201cThere have been over 14,400 board appointments since 2014 \u2013 each selected on merit and the basis of their diverse backgrounds, gender and ethnicity to ensure our boards reflect the Victorian community.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ombudsman\u2019s public service probe is due to be published later this year or during the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. <\/i><\/b>Sign up here<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Politics<\/h2>\n
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