River Murray Royal Commissioner Bret Walker to pocket $1m, as State Government prepares to release controversial report
Senior Sydney silk Bret Walker is expected to pocket about $1 million for leading the state-based River Murray Royal Commission, which is be readied for imminent release.
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Senior Sydney silk Bret Walker is expected to pocket about $1 million for leading the state-based Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission, which is expected to deliver damning findings on the management of the critical waterway when released in coming days.
Figures released to The Advertiser by the State Government show Mr Walker, who was being paid $10,000 per day, has already billed taxpayers for $855,000 worth of legal work on the report with a final invoice yet to be submitted.
Further costs from the Commission’s work during last year included $57,657 for Mr Walker’s domestic airfares, $3425 in taxis and a further $9399 for meals and accommodation.
His assisting counsel Richard Beasley has separately billed taxpayers for $812,300 in legal costs and $30,484 in travel expenses.
Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the cost of retaining Mr Walker, a decision taken by the former Labor state government, was “very high” and “many South Australians will be annoyed” at the expense.
The reported costs, which will rise when final invoices are submitted, compares to about $640,000 paid to the head of SA’s recent child protection royal commission and $430,000 to former governor Kevin Scarce for his inquiry into the possible expansion of the state’s nuclear industry.
The Government has said the high cost was a factor in the decision to not grant time extensions, which would have allowed the River Murray inquiry to examine new issues.
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas accused the Government of “running interference” on the Commission and not supporting its work.
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