The Sauce: Five NSW bureaucrats join elite $600k-a-year pay club

The Sauce can reveal staffers in two ministerial offices are at breaking point, reduced to tears with the state election still a year away.

It’s an exclusive club, but the number of NSW public servants gaining membership to it after being given pay “top-ups” to push their salaries over $600,000 a year is growing.

So far this year, five bureaucrats have joined “Club 600” after Premier Dominic Perrottet made a special request to the Remuneration Tribunal for their salaries to be bumped up.

The latest to join the club is Amy Brown, the new Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade secretary, who will take home a $614,000-per-annum salary following the intervention.

NSW Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade secretary Amy Brown.

Ms Brown, whose LinkedIn profile reveals how much she loves working for the NSW government — “I really do” — was hired on January 21 this year on a public service “Band 4” wage, which is set at between $499,251 and $576,700.

But in approving a top-up, tribunal boss Greg Pearce noted how Mr Perrottet had advised that Ms Brown should receive a total renumeration package consistent with other secretaries.

“In determining the appropriate remuneration, the tribunal had regard to the role and responsibilities, and Ms Brown’s extensive experience working in senior roles in the state
public sector and private sector,” Mr Pearce said.

Ms Brown was previously the chief executive of Investment NSW. Prior to that role she was the deputy secretary and head of the Strategy and Delivery Group in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

“Consistent with the Premier’s request, the determination is personal to Ms Brown and is not a determination that applies to the office of Secretary of the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade or to future appointments to the role,” Mr Pearce said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and new Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Other public servants to join the club this year include NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb — whose role was also within the Band 4 pay margin until Mr Perrottet stepped in to request an increase to match that of her predecessor Mick Fuller.

The pay bump to $665,750 was signed off on January 27.

Two other public servants hired on Band 4 salaries, but who will now earn $614,000, include Department of Communities and Justice secretary Michael Tidball, who started his job on February 1, and Treasury secretary Paul Grimes, who commenced his role on January 29.

Nice work if you can get it.

RUDDOCK’S REBUFF

It’s been a tough few months for NSW Liberal Party president Philip Ruddock.

Not only has he had to preside over a warring state executive, but he’s also had to deal with leaks that he claims have led to some of his statements being taken out of context.

NSW Liberal Party president Philip Ruddock.

In a statement issued late on Friday, the party clarified how a media article published about Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons had not been an “accurate representation” of Mr Ruddock’s views.

The article was based on a motion to state executive members about the nominees for the federal seat of Hughes. Ms Gibbons is one of the nominees, along with lawyer Jenny Ware and local Alex Cook.

The motion stated how PricewaterhouseCoopers associate Alex Dore should be the candidate, declaring how “none of the persons who nominated are suitable”, nor provided the division with its best chance of winning the election.

As might be expected, the party was quickly in receipt of a legal letter, sent on behalf of Ms Gibbons, who was being represented by none other than moderate powerbroker and lawyer Gareth Ward.

Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons. Picture: AAP Image

The party office declared Mr Ruddock had been taken out of context.

In its statement to members, it said how the article has “extracted a single sentence” from an electronic ballot, “without any context”.

It went on to explain how Mr Ruddock had also informed members how it was “critical” Ms Gibbons continued to represent Holsworthy, as “she currently represents the best chance” of holding on to the seat.

“Mr Ruddock did not intend any criticism of Ms Gibbons,” the statement said.

“Mr Ruddock apologises for any hurt this may have caused Ms Gibbons.

“Ms Gibbons is a valued member of the state Liberal Party and an outstanding parliamentarian.”

As for who will be the candidate for Hughes …

PEACE PIPE

Transport Minister David Elliott and Transport for NSW secretary Rob Sharp — as The Sauce has been documenting — may not have hit it off.

But the pair did attempt to have somewhat of a conciliation last week.

Transport Minister David Elliott.

Transport for NSW secretary Rob Sharp.

As part of the usual war-gaming that occurs before a Budget Estimates hearing, Elliott, Sharp and Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins all met in the minister’s Martin Place office, where the peace pipe was allegedly passed around.

Given the high drama of the hearing, we’re thinking something stiffer should be on offer next time, although we hear the pair are committed to sorting out their differences.

PRESSURE COOKER

It is not unusual to hear of unhappiness in one ministerial office, but The Sauce is now aware of staffers in two who say they are ready to call it quits — or have already fled back to their old jobs.

In the first case, staff have accused their boss and a senior employee in the office of being “abusive” and “condescending”.

We’ve heard stories of “boring” media releases being amended by hand before they are ordered to be rewritten for a third or fourth time — and in some cases are never issued at all.

We have also been told of staff in tears.

In the second case, the minister has already had a series of staff pass through the office turnstile.

And there is still a year to go before the next election.

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