Premier Steven Miles denies LNP claims over jobs for Labor mates

The LNP has sensationally accused Premier Steven Miles of “handing out jobs” to Labor-aligned mates after his former chief of staff took a job within the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The LNP has sensationally accused Premier Steven Miles of “handing out jobs” to Labor-aligned mates after his former chief of staff took a job within the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Mr Miles has strongly denied the claim, which was made by Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie on Monday.

Mr Bleijie noted the Premier’s former chief of staff Danielle Cohen had been appointed to a newly-created role as Associate Director-General in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

He questioned why the role was not advertised with no merit-based selection process.

Then Deputy Premier Steven Miles with chief of staff Danielle Cohen during an Economics and Governance Committee estimates hearing at Parliament House in 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Mr Miles labelled Mr Bleijie’s claim “out of line and offensive” and declared he had no involvement in the appointment of public service officers.

“Any questions about an employment process undertaken within the public service will need to be directed to the appropriate people,” he said.

Ms Cohen is tasked with leading a new division to implement government policies and improve service delivery – a role Mr Bleijie said should be the focus of all public servants.

“A job was created for his (Mr Miles’s) former chief of staff, a job that appears not to be advertised … I assume this role brings hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Mr Bleijie said.

A spokesman for the Department of Premier and Cabinet noted Ms Cohen was on secondment to the department from energy company Stanwell Corporation – meaning the job did not have to be advertised.

“Ms Cohen is employed by a government-owned corporation and is temporarily engaged on a mobility arrangement as provided for under the Public Sector Act 2022,” he said.