Scott Cam’s career ambassador salary revealed
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed TV tradie Scott Cam and the government paycheck he is being given saying it passes the pub test, despite previously refusing to reveal just how much he would be paid for the new role.
National
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The prime minister is unrepentant about paying TV tradie Scott Cam $345,000 for a 15-month government contract.
The celebrity builder was appointed to the role of national careers ambassador in October to encourage more young people to take up trades. The Gold Logie winner will be paid $260,000 this financial year and $85,000 the next.
Scott Morrison insists the pay packet passes the pub test.
“Scotty Cam is a successful tradie and he can make that message very clear,” Mr Morrison told reporters on Friday.
“We made no secret about the fact that he wasn’t doing it as a volunteer and he has done this work for previous Labor governments as well.
“This is about getting young people into trades. He is a high profile person involved in the media industry and you have to meet the market.”
Department of Employment and Skills officials told a spillover estimates hearing on Thursday Mr Cam would be paid $260,000 in this financial year and $85,000 in 2020-21. The figures exclude GST.
The role will see the Gold Logie winner work with the National Careers Institute, alongside government, industry, education providers, career advisors, parents and employers to improve career options.
His appointment was announced by Employment Minister Michaelia Cash in October as part of a $585.3 million package to help train highly skilled and qualified workers.
But the government would not reveal his pay at the time, arguing the contract was "commercial in confidence".
Following the revelation in estimates, Labor Senator Louise Pratt questioned whether the appointment was an attempt to "paper over and distract" from cuts to the sector.
"I guess I'm concerned that you've got someone like Scott Cam promoting vocational education at the same time as there are significant cuts to vocational education," she said.
The question was quickly shut down by Senator Cash, who said Mr Cam would be a role model for others considering vocational careers.
At the time, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the agreement was commercial in confidence, meaning it couldn’t be revealed to the public.
“That’s a protection that’s provided to individual Australians that their own commercial arrangements aren’t exposed,” he told 3AW radio.
He said the government signed similar agreements with suppliers to build road and rail projects.
“There are a lot of companies that do business with the government who seek those commercial-in-confidence agreements,” Mr Morrison said.
“It’s not a new practice, it’s quite a longstanding one.”
The Gold Logie-winning Cam is paid by the government to highlight how practical and technical training can lead to high-paying jobs.
Labor and the unions have called for more money to be poured into TAFE instead of celebrity appointments.
When Cam appeared with Mr Morrison and Senator Cash earlier this year, Mr Morrison said university wasn’t the only path to success.
“I want to see more Australians become plumbers, electricians and bakers than lawyers and consultants. I would like to see more of them going on to become their own boss,” he said.
“Scott Cam is proof that undertaking a trade can be a very valuable, rewarding and successful career choice, and there are plenty more who can tell a similar story to Scott.
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“By learning a trade you’ll earn more, your skills will be in demand and you’ll help build our country and keep our economy strong,” he said.
Senator Cash said Cam would help Australians at “all ages and stages”.
“Working with the National Careers Institute, Scott will make sure individuals and businesses can take advantage of the pathways on offer,” she said.
Originally published as Scott Cam’s career ambassador salary revealed