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Liberal public sector purge rolls on claiming Greg Crafter, Mal Hemmerling, Mary Patetsos, Amanda Blair

A MASS clean out from government boards will claim a former Labor minister and a high-profile radio broadcaster as the Liberal public sector clean-out rolls on.

Former Grand Prix director Mal Hemmerling at the Victoria Park track
Former Grand Prix director Mal Hemmerling at the Victoria Park track

A MASS purge from government boards today will claim a former Labor minister and a high-profile radio broadcaster as the Liberal public sector clean-out rolls on.

Former Bannon government education minister Greg Crafter is among four people whose terms will not be renewed on the SA Housing Trust board once they expire on Saturday.

The others are Housing Trust board chairwoman Mary Patetsos, the wife of former Labor immigration minister Nick Bolkus, radio broadcaster Amanda Blair and Playford Council chief executive officer Mal Hemmerling.

Mr Hemmerling was the Australian Formula One Grand Prix’s chief after the event was lured to Adelaide under the late Labor premier John Bannon’s government in the 1980s and also headed the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games in 2000.

Ms Patetsos, an experienced policymaker, received a $37,148 annual fee as presiding member, while the other board members were paid $24,765.

Former Grand Prix director Mal Hemmerling.
Former Grand Prix director Mal Hemmerling.

Former Business SA chief Peter Vaughan’s term on the SACE Board, for which he was paid $12,383 annually, also was not renewed after his retirement.

He told The Advertiser he had decided to retire from the SACE Board after serving two terms, for six years.

Mr Vaughan was sacked as TAFE SA’s chairman in December last year, by the previous Labor government, after a damning audit into courses by the national regulator.

Former HomeStart Finance chief Gary Storkey will be appointed as the SA Housing Trust board’s presiding member for three years, while other board replacements will be appointed as interim members.

Mr Storkey, Community Housing Ltd’s state manager, also is a former director and founder of Common Ground Adelaide, which provides housing for homeless people.

It is understood the board changes will be detailed later today in the official SA Government Gazette and the members have been told their appointments will not be renewed.

Amanda Blair has been axed from the Housing Trust board. Photo Tom Huntley
Amanda Blair has been axed from the Housing Trust board. Photo Tom Huntley

They follow the resignations of former Labor deputy leaders Kevin Foley and Annette Hurley from heading Super SA and Funds SA’s boards respectively, in the wake of the Liberals’ March 17 state election victory.

In other government changes, Premier Steven Marshall on Thursday morning announced four public sector chief executive appointments.

They are:

Paul Heithersay — Energy and Mining;

Mike Hnyda — Trade, Tourism and Investment;

Michael Buchan — interim CEO, South Australian Housing Authority,

Kylie Taylor — Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/liberal-public-sector-purge-rolls-on-claiming-greg-crafter-mal-hemmerling-mary-patetsos-amanda-blair/news-story/c6e8cd8e1ca6dddbba49d810c46ed4c7