Qld Health COO David Rosengren given $352k golden handshake

A high-ranking health executive received a staggering payout despite resigning of his own accord, prompting Shannon Fentiman to concede it was “a lot of money”.

Former Queensland Health COO Dr David Rosengren

A high-ranking Queensland Health executive received a staggering $352,000 payout despite resigning of his own accord and starting a new job in the public health system just three weeks later.

The enormous golden handshake secured by former Queensland Health chief operating officer David Rosengren, on top of his salaries at the department and a new job at Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service means he earned a taxpayer funded salary of $956,000 in 2023-24.

This puts him in the top 10 earning public servants in Queensland, with a salary higher than those of the heads of Queensland Rail, power company Stanwell, and Queensland Investment Corporation.

There is no suggestion of any improper conduct on the part of Dr Rosengren, or that he was not entitled to the payout under his employment contract.

The eye-watering figure prompted Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to concede it was “a lot of money” while underlining politicians weren’t involved in hashing out individual public service employment contracts and shouldn’t be.

Dr Rosengren announced he would step down from his role as Queensland Health’s chief operating officer in late July 2023, becoming the second top-ranking bureaucrat to resign behind director-general Shaun Drummond.

It was outlined at the time that Dr Rosengren would step down from his role as COO but remain in Queensland Health.

The latest Department of Health annual report revealed Dr Rosengren’s last day in the COO role was August 28, 2023.

He received a termination benefit of $352,000, on top of his salary for the first two months of the 2023-24 financial year — for a total payment of $457,000.

Former Queensland Health director-general Shaun Drummond

By comparison, Mr Drummond, who also resigned from Queensland Health, did not receive a termination benefit even though his contract was not due to expire until October 2027. He was paid $36,000 for the 2023-24 year.

The latest Gold Coast HHS annual report in turn shows Dr Rosengren started as its acting executive director of organisational development on September 18, 2023.

The time between leaving his COO job and starting on the Gold Coast was three weeks.

His salary at GCHHS for the 2023-24 year was $499,000.

While the Department of Health and the GCHHS exist under the umbrella of Queensland Health, they are separate entities.

A Queensland Health spokesman said the department could not speak to payment details of various employment arrangements due to confidentially.

“Those obligations restrict the department from providing further, specific information about termination benefits paid,” he said.

“Specific arrangements are a matter for individual executives.”

Ms Fentiman said Dr Rosengren’s annual pay cheque was substantial, but affirmed politicians were not involved in those negotiations.

“I think for anyone, that’s a lot of money,” she said.

“But politicians are not involved in individual public service employment contracts, nor should they be.”

Queensland Health’s annual report states the “remuneration and other terms of employment” for its executives are “specified in employment contracts” and on termination benefits, those contracts “only provide for notice periods or payment in lieu of termination, regardless of the reason”.

The Courier-Mail attempted to get in touch with Dr Rosengren through Gold Coast HHS and contacted him directly via phone and email but he could not be reached. Dr Rosengren’s voicemail indicates he is on leave until September 30.