Who’s on South Australia’s government boards and how much do they get paid? Search the table

Who sits on SA’s various government boards and how much do they get paid? Explore the data in this searchable table.

The Advertiser has compiled a database of SA’s various boards for readers to explore. Artwork Steve Grice/The Advertiser.

The number of people sitting on South Australian boards has been slashed by more than half in the last ten years, as new figures show how much each member is paid for the plush roles.

In the 2019/20 financial year, there were a total of 1633 people sitting across 196 public sector boards, committees and panels, costing the State Government a total of $10.95m.

The number of members was drastically lower than in 2009/10, when there were more than 4400 people sitting on 489 boards and committees.

The total cost of funding the groups has also dropped from $12.1m in the 2013/14 financial year. The following year marked the beginning of a Labor government push to slash boards and red tape.

The most recently published data is up to June 30 last year. Some board appointment terms have expired since then – but many have been reappointed.

One of the most high-profile departures in the second half of last year was former Labor state government minister Jane Lomax-Smith, who was replaced as the presiding member of the SA Museum board by PwC partner Kim Cheater.

Analysis by The Advertiser revealed the highest paid board member last financial year was Michael Lennon, the chairman of the busy State Planning Commission.

Last financial year, he pocketed an annual fee of more than $70,000, plus a retainer of nearly $110,000 for 26 meetings.

Meanwhile, NSW-based Tony Shepherd AO, chairman of the Infrastructure SA Board, was paid a retainer of nearly $80,00 and an annual fee of $70,758 for eight meetings.

Return to Work Corporation of South Australia Board chair Greg McCarthy, who was the ReturnToWorkSA chief executive officer for four years until he retired in 2016, was also a big earner, collecting $100,000 for the year. His board met 13 times.

NSW-based Tony Shepherd AO was paid a retainer of nearly $80,000 for being chairman of the Infrastructure SA Board.

Other members who raked in the big bucks included James Birch and Raymond Spencer, chairmen of the Women’s and Children’s and Central Adelaide local health network governing boards respectively.

They both earned $70,758 for six meetings each.

The highest hourly rate belonged to two members of the Prescribed Psychiatric Treatment panel. Craig Paterson and Terence Coyne were both paid $247.68 an hour across 11 meetings.

Treasurer Rob Lucas said boards played an important role in providing the Government with information and advice on a range of matters.

“Boards and committees are a necessary part of a sensible governance structure,” he said.

“In most cases it makes sense to have some sort of structure to provide advice to the department and to the Minister.”

Mr Lucas said the Government’s “always got an eye as to whether or not we can reduce some of them” however “we wouldn’t envisage a massive reduction in boards and committees”.

Opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said, while the number of board members reduced across government, “it’s time board fees were reviewed and savings made for taxpayers”.

Former treasurer Rob Lucas said the government has “always got an eye” on reducing boards, but major cuts were not planned.

Stephen Mullighan said more needed to be done to cut down on board member fees.

The most prolific board was the Parole Board of SA, which met a total of 100 times.

One of SA’s most high profile board members is Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor, who sits on five different boards, including as director of the Adelaide Film Festival Board.

Her various boards met a total of 37 times in 2019/20.

Ms Verschoor donates all her fees to causes and organisations related to each particular board.

Her $76.80 an hour rate for being presiding member of the Adelaide Parklands Authority board is all donated to the Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize.

Other notable South Australians to straddle multiple public sector boards includes former top RAH trauma surgeon Bill Griggs, who is paid more than $100,000 a year for his role on three boards.

Senior SA business leaders Con Tragakis and Joanne Denley and former BHP Olympic Dam boss Jacqui McGill also sit on multiple boards.

Ex-Defence SA boss Andrew Fletcher is paid $70,758 as the head of the SA Water Corporation board.

How to get on board

Interested in getting on a State Government board? It could be as easy as signing up online.

There are almost 200 Government boards across a wide variety of sectors.

These boards advise Government Ministers on issues, manage public assets and oversee various education, economic, environmental and health programs.

Most board members are paid on either an annual or sessional basis, however there are some voluntary roles.

One way a person can get onto a board is by registering their interest online with BoardingCall, at boardingcall.sa.gov.au.

Applicants can create a profile and upload their CV into the system.

Agencies and boards can then use BoardingCall to recruit members.

“Selection processes can vary from board to board and will be influenced by many factors,” the website says.

“For example, if a board is established by legislation, the legislation may require members be appointed from particular industries or organisations, or have specific skills and qualifications.”

The Premier or Ministers nominate many appointments, while departments, councils, other organisations or stakeholders nominate others.

Registering does not guarantee an applicant a role and if a person sees a board position advertised and they are interested in it, they should still submit an application.

The time commitment required for each role will vary depending on the board, however in most cases members are able to maintain employment while serving on a board.

If a person is being considered for an appointment, they will be contacted directly by the Government or a representative.

BoardingCall profiles expire after five years with no activity. The five-year time limit will reset each time an applicant logs on.

A list of all boards is available on the Department of the Premier and Cabinet website.