MARK DREYFUS
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
GOVERNMENT LOOKS AFTER THEIR OWN WITH AAT REAPPOINTMENTS
In the same week its own Budget Papers confirmed wages will be going backwards for another four years, the Morrison Government has reappointed four of its mates to lucrative taxpayer funded jobs.
Since 2013 the Liberals have appointed at least 79 of their mates to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, where full-time senior members are paid almost $400,000 a year and even junior members are paid at least $190,000.
In one of her first acts as Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has continued the tradition of her predecessor Christian Porter of stacking the Tribunal with failed Liberal candidates, dumped Liberal MPs, former Liberal advisers and other Liberal mates.
Senator Cash has re-appointed:
- Theo Tavoularis, a Liberal Party donor who was first appointed to the Tribunal shortly after representing the son of former Attorney-General George Brandis' in a criminal case;
- Michael Manetta, a failed Liberal candidate for the South Australian seat of Torrens;
- Louise Bygrave, a former senior adviser to Liberal MP Tim Wilson; and
- Justin Meyer, a former adviser to ex-Victorian Liberal premiers Ted Baillieu and Dennis Napthine.
Mr Tavoularis earnt $391,900 on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal last year, and Mr Meyer $221,700 – the sort of wages most Australians could only dream about.
The appointment of Liberal mates to the Tribunal is so out of hand, former High Court judge, Ian Callinan QC, had to actually recommend all further appointments be on the basis of merit.
By contrast in six years of Labor Government from 2007 to 2013 there were just two Labor-linked appointments to the AAT, both experienced and highly skilled lawyers welcomed by the Liberals.
While other Australians have seen their wages go backwards under eight long years of Coalition rule, the Liberals continue to make sure their mates are looked after.
FRIDAY, 14 MAY 2021
