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 Labor's chief advisers pocket $150k plus 

Labor's chief advisers pocket $150k plus

13 Apr, 2009 07:33 AM
ACT Labor's five ministers pay 17 senior advisers at least $94,000 a year while 10 other advisers earn less than $82,000.

Two of the chief advisers earn more than $150,000.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope's office issued a breakdown of the advisers' employment conditions amid discontent in the Legislative Assembly at growing workloads and a lack of transparency of ministers' spending on staff.

The five ministers employ 28.6 full-time-equivalent staff, of whom 17 are senior advisers earning between $94,000 and $122,000 a year. Only 9.6 staff are junior advisers, who earn between $62,000 and $83,000 a year. But the Government now employs an executive chief of staff as well as a chief of staff, after Mr Stanhope created the higher classification for his top adviser, Jeremy Lasek, last year.

A chief of staff earns between $156,000 and $164,000 a year, but MrLasek's salary and allowances, excluding superannuation, are worth up to $174,000, plus a car lease valued at $15,500.

The Government's breakdown of salaries does not identify individual advisers, but Mr Lasek's special contract is tabled in the Legislative Assembly. Mr Lasek was seconded from the Chief Minister's Department to work with Mr Stanhope in May last year.

Opposition parties welcomed yesterday the Government's decision to publish information on ministers' staff.

The Assembly Speaker, Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury, said, ''The information is already available and, as long as individuals aren't identified, of course it should be published. It's important all public spending is scrutinised.''

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Who was shocked? This economic crisis has been coming for thirty years. Thirty years of economic dribble from the mouths of the Liberal and Labor politicians. A country driven into the ground by constant spin, hollow promises, just to get re-elected for the spoils of office, to share in the carve up of lurks and perks. Lurks and Perks only a pirate would have access to,"79,000,000,000 Billion Dollars". No! Executive bonuses equal this amount of indulgence. Kevin A380 fly me to the heavens' wrote seven thousand word essay, on neo-liberalism. "Oh Kevin how the has fibbed" on the governments benefited from this system, the banks + government+ big end of town have brought us to the brink of world depression. Kevin is making promises he will never keep, writing cheques his body cant cash , in eight years time Rudd will be know as the EXPERIMENT gone wrong. While he sits in a warm seat at the UN ,citizens will remember him using profound language to reflect on the Federal Labor Government time in office. While the asinine public continue the cycle of electing the next kleptocracy.
Posted by toby togood, 13/04/2009 11:06:44 AM
wow toby togood.....wish I'd written that....says it all,and very eloquently!All I can say on behalf of the pensioners who were promised so much pre election,those advisors are very well paid to make momentous decissions about the plight of pensioners....two can't live as cheaply as one on the pittance we get!!!Labours earliest policies promised,free travel ,good medical care and adequate housing to the oldies who had worked hard for their country all their lives!
Posted by Mr.Magoo, 13/04/2009 11:34:24 AM
Australia is already over govern, state & federal level, now politicians are increasing the numbers of their staff & advisers, I don't know why we bother to elect politicians, lets just employ the advisers to run the country, that will save the taxpayers a lot of money.
Posted by missmuffet, 13/04/2009 12:23:34 PM
if they need advisers what the hell are they doing in government,maybe the greens and other people/parties should take notice that they are backing people who were elected to govern but it appears they do not know how to govern,or the other possibilities is that these high paid jobs are for past favors or for just their friends
Posted by nigel, 13/04/2009 8:07:18 PM
Sounds like a serious waste of money for what is a very minor local government.
Posted by Concerned Canberran, 14/04/2009 10:58:03 PM
Whatever Kate Carnell's perceived failings, one of her better judgments was that advisers to her Ministers were not on luctrative packages, including government cars and six figure salaries. Pay and conditions were fair but not considered overly generous, and there were no such things as Executive Chiefs of Staff, or whatever it's called (maybe Emeritus Chief of Staff is next?). The workof a Ministerial adviser is tough, but it's not designed to be financially compelling. Reality is most of these advisers on the Stanhope packages are earning more than many White House advisers - that puts it into perspective, doesn't it?
Posted by Former Staffer, 15/04/2009 5:43:09 PM

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EXECUTIVE: Chief of staff Jeremy Lasek.
EXECUTIVE: Chief of staff Jeremy Lasek.

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