LNP accused of jobs for the boys at Inland Rail

THE Coalition Government has appointed former mayor and senior LNP statesman John Brent to a paid advisory role on Inland Rail, raising accusations of “jobs for the boys”.

THE Coalition Government has appointed former mayor and senior LNP statesman John Brent to a paid advisory role on Inland Rail, raising accusations of “jobs for the boys”.

John Brent was mayor of the Scenic Rim for more than 20 years. Picture: Guy Creighton

He will be paid $24,000 for the part-time gig, with duties to include meetings four times a year, preparing the agenda and checking the draft minutes.

Deputy PM Michael McCormack this week announced Mr Brent’s appointment as chairman of the Community Consultative Committee for the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge section.

Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt said it looked like a job for a mate.

“It’s disappointing to see the Government using the Inland Rail as an opportunity to appoint another scandal-prone LNP mate to a paid government role,” he said.

Mr McCormack’s office confirmed it was a paid appointment, but denied it was a “jobs for the boys” arrangement, saying it was made following an independently run process by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.

“The Minister does not make appointments on the chair or members of the Community Consultative Committees for Inland Rail,” he said.

Labor Senator Murray Watt said it looked like a job for a mate. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Opposition Infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese said: “This project needs objective and considered oversight, not political partisanship.”

Mr Brent was mayor of the Scenic Rim for more than 20 years and at one point former LNP premier Campbell Newman was said to have been considering him to be his deputy, should he run for State Parliament.

Mr Brent has been chased through the courts for claims he owed money in recent years following the collapse of his company Bunny Bites.