Premier Steven Marshall clears out Multicultural Commission as Liberal purge continues

BOARD members of yet another South Australian Government body have been cleared out as Premier Steven Marshall “refreshes” government agencies.

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BOARD members of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission have been cleared out as Premier Steven Marshall “refreshes” government boards.

At least two members of the commission board have received emails telling them their terms won’t be extended past their June 30 expiration, the Sunday Mail can reveal.

The Opposition claimed most of the 12 board members had been removed, describing it as a “mass sacking”.

The Government did not reveal how many SAMEAC board members had been cut, but board member Mabok Deng Mabok Marial said he thought most had received emails similar to the one he got on Friday.

Mr Marial said he had received no prior indication of the decision and was sad his three-year stint with the commission had come to an end.

Premier Steven Marshall was in Sydney on Saturday, addressing the 60th federal council of the Liberal Party. AAP Image/Joel Carrett

“If it was that my term was up and someone else would come in and directly replace me, I wouldn’t mind, but I still don’t know the intention behind it,” he said.

A second member, who did not want to be named, confirmed they’d also been told they were no longer required.

Labor multicultural affairs spokeswoman Katrine Hildyard said the removal of board members was “simply nasty”.

“The SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission has served SA’s multicultural community with distinction,” Ms Hildyard said.

“There was no forewarning and there can be no justification for this cruel decision.”

A spokeswoman said the Government is “refreshing the membership of a number of State Government boards, including SAMEAC”.

Board members of SAMEAC receive an annual fee of $3610, while the deputy chair receives $4170. The commission chair is paid $27,830.

Terms expire on June 30 for a large number of members on the Government’s 200 boards and committees.

Mr Marshall recently axed long-serving Victims’ Rights Commissioner Michael O’Connell, replacing him with Assistant Police Commissioner Brownyn Killmier.