‘Lots of good people at DFAT are very upset’: Fallout over awarding of plum job to diplomat’s partner
The husband of Australia’s deputy High Commissioner to the UK has won a plum new job linked to the AUKUS submarine project in London – but not everyone is happy.
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The partner of the deputy High Commissioner to the UK has been hired in a $96,000 a year job linked to the AUKUS submarine project based in London.
Insiders have raised concerns about the appointment of Doug Ferguson to the plum role given his relationship with deputy head of mission Elisabeth Bowes.
Australia’s High Commission has confirmed his new job, saying Ms Bowes did not take part in the decision and that it was done “without discrimination or favouritism”.
However, two of the three members on the selection panel knew Mr Ferguson.
A diplomatic source, who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters, said: “This is not the husband of a junior official processing visas in a country where they otherwise couldn’t work. “It’s about a job for the second most senior official’s husband and plunking him in it. Lots of good people at DFAT are very upset,” the source said.
Mr Ferguson may have to assist his Ms Bowes in “high level meetings” about the $386 billion AUKUS deal to deliver nuclear powered submarines to Australia.
The job description for the role states that the successful candidate would “support the High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and Minister Counsellor in high level meetings as required.”
There were 35 applications for the job, with three people who all had security clearances including Mr Ferguson, taken through to the interview stage.
“DHOM (Ms Bowes) was not involved in the process at any stage,” Australia’s High Commission in London said in a statement.
“Indeed, she was expressly excluded for the obvious conflict of interest reason.”
“Spouses often apply for and are successful in filling locally engaged roles within the Australian diplomatic network.”
The High Commission added that “the chair and a panellist, who know Mr Ferguson and declared that knowledge, signed Declarations of Impartiality prior to interview.”
Mr Ferguson previously worked as a bureau manager at Parliament House in Canberra for Channel Nine.
He also worked as a camera operator in Sydney and Los Angeles for the network during a 40-year career before switching to DFAT.
“Mr Ferguson’s extensive media experience, including as senior member of the DFAT media team, from which he is currently on leave without pay, and that he holds the appropriate Australian government security clearance made him the most qualified for the role,” the High Commission added.
Questions have also been raised about travel spending at the High Commission, including a taxpayer funded trip taken by the London-based public diplomacy manager Hannah Bretherton to the United States and Japan.
The High Commission said it was part of a “significant overhaul” at Australia House.
“This included recruiting an entirely new staff, refining the team’s focus on Australia’s core strategic objectives in the UK, including AUKUS, implementing the Australia-UK FTA, climate change and the clean energy transition, and promoting First Nations voices overseas,” it added.
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Originally published as ‘Lots of good people at DFAT are very upset’: Fallout over awarding of plum job to diplomat’s partner
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