[Greens-Media] Remuneration Tribunal's 'independence' under fire

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Wednesday, 20 June 2007

Remuneration Tribunal's 'independence' under fire

Greens Leader Bob Brown today called on Prime Minister Howard to review
the total 14% pay rise for MPs announced in this financial year.

"This 6.7% rise cannot be justified after the 7% agreed to by the
government and opposition last September," Senator Brown said.

"The Remuneration Tribunal is accountable to no one. It has not
adequately explained its reasons for granting MPs these excessive pay
rises," Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown also called  into question the independence of the
Remuneration Tribunal pointing out that one member, John D. C. Allen, is
a "good mate" of Treasurer Peter Costello and reported by the
Treasurer's wife was headhunted for a $150,000 job at the ANZ bank by Mr
Allen in 2006 (see attached).

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


Treasurer's wife recruited by her husband's old mate
Sydney Morning Herald
Michael Bachelard
August 4, 2006
WHEN Peter Costello's wife, Tanya, was appointed last week to a $150,000
job at ANZ Bank, his spokesman told the media that the Treasurer was
"totally hands-off on this".
But the Herald has discovered that the headhunter who recommended Mrs
Costello, John Allen, has been a good mate of Mr Costello's for 20
years, is a senior figure in the Treasurer's local Liberal branch, and
remains a paid-up member of his electorate fundraising body, the Higgins
200 Club.
Mr Allen, the principal of John D.C. Allen & Associates, has also been
the recipient of two plum Government appointments in the past six years:
in 2003 he was appointed by Tony Abbott as one of three members of the
Remuneration Tribunal, which decides how much politicians and senior
public servants are paid; and in 2000, the then finance minister, John
Fahey, appointed him as chairman of the Australian Government Solicitor
Advisory Board.
A senior source in ANZ Bank said that "eyebrows have been raised" about
the appointment, and a senior Victorian Liberal source said the party
was "abuzz" with the story.
Mr Allen said yesterday he had not informed the ANZ Bank that he was
friends with the woman he was recommending for the job, where she will
help bank customers set up charitable trusts. "We have been meticulous
in compartmentalising the personal friendship from anything
professional," he said.
Mr Allen said the idea to recommend Mrs Costello had been an
"opportunistic thought", and that she had the "right skill set and
experience, and she really clicked with the people she would be working
with at ANZ".
"I can categorically tell you I have had no conversation with the
Treasurer at all in the six months in which this was done, except
formally, through my role with the Remuneration Tribunal."
Mr Allen said he had known the Costellos for about 20 years. He was a
vice-president of the Melbourne branch of the party when Mr Costello was
wresting the seat of Higgins from Roger Shipton. When Mr Costello became
Treasurer in 1996, Mr Allen, as a key ally, became the chairman of the
Higgins electorate council.
A spokeswoman for Mr Costello said last night that Mrs Costello "has
always followed her own independent career on her own merits, which she
is entitled to do free of criticism based on her marital status."


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au