Former sports minister Martin Pakula set to be named as Grand Prix chairman
The opposition has demanded the government be clear on whether Martin Pakula will be paid in his role as chairman of the Australian Grand Prix after the Minister for Sport refused to rule it out.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Opposition Sport, Tourism and Major Events spokesman Sam Groth says the government needs to provide clarity on whether Martin Pakula will be paid for his role as
chairman of the Australian Grand Prix.
On Monday, Cabinet signed off on it on the position for the former sports minister.
Mr Pakula replaces long-serving chair Paul Little who stepped down last month.
“It’s a great honour to be able to help shape the future of motorsport in Australia, and to ensure that F1 and MotoGP fans come here from across the state, the nation and from around the globe to watch the world’s best motorsport events,” Mr Pakula said.
“I’m looking forward to a fabulous MotoGP at Phillip Island in just over a week, and to working with new CEO Travis Auld to strengthen Victoria’s place as the home of motorsport.”
Sport, Tourism and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said his predecessor Martin Pakula wouldn’t be paid for his role as Grand Prix chair “at this stage”.
Members on the Australian Grand Prix Corporation board are currently unpaid, but the government is reviewing whether members of various state government boards should be remunerated.
Mr Dimopoulos on Wednesday refused to rule out that Mr Pakula’s role wouldn’t become a paid position in the future, but said he couldn’t see that change happening “for some time”.
“There’s a general acceptance in government, well before this (appointment), that in order to encourage diversity on government boards ... we should look at the ability to pay some kind of costs and remuneration to those people,” he said.
“We haven’t instituted that yet. Some (boards) are paid, many in my portfolio are not paid. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation board is an unpaid board.”
Asked whether he could rule out the Grand Prix board chair ever becoming a paid gig, Mr Dimopoulos fired back: “Why would I do that? I’ve just said to you that it’s important that Victorian boards have the diversity of Victorians on them. The way you encourage that diversity is through removing obstacles and roadblocks.”
“I can’t see one being made for some time to change the arrangements for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation board,” he added.
Mr Dimopoulos said Mr Pakula was “extraordinarily well qualified” to take on the role.
But on Wednesday, Mr Groth said the classification of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation board allowed members to be paid despite previous chairs and members forgoing payment.
“There’s nothing stopping Mr Pakula from taking that payment as it currently stands,” he said.
“We would like Martin Pakula to continue in that same vein as those who have come before him and rule out ... that moving forward he will continue to act in that role in an unpaid way.”
Mr Groth said while there may be merit to promoting Mr Pakula, a former sports and major events minister, the state government needed to boost transparency around the process of appointing members to boards.
“What we need to question is what was the process in appointing Martin Pakula in the first place,” he said.
“I think we need to do better in this state of appointing the best person for the job and sometimes we have to look outside of the walls in which we currently stand here at Parliament House.”
Former Liberal MP Gordon Rich-Phillips was recently appointed to a government board.
Mr Groth, who never worked with Mr Rich-Phillips, said he would “absolutely” welcome information around his appointment.
A government spokeswoman said there have been over 14,400 board appointments since 2014.
“Each was selected on merit and the basis of their diverse backgrounds, gender and ethnicity to ensure our board reflects the Victorian community,” she said.
It comes after former health minister Martin Foley was appointed to chair the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation, a $150,000 role.
Former deputy premier James Merlino, and former ministers Lisa Neville and Jill Hennessy have also been appointed to boards since leaving parliament.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Travis Auld, welcomed Mr Pakula’s appointment, the latest in a series of board appointments of former Andrews government ministers.
Mr Pakula was central to the negotiations last year that secured the event at Albert Park until at least 2035.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events, Sam Groth, questioned the selection process.
“Public positions like these need the best people for the job and appointments must be made through a proper and transparent process and not simply gifted to Labor mates,” he said.
“Labor must also confirm if any changes to remuneration arrangements for the Board of the Grand Prix Corporation will occur as result of this appointment.”
Since leaving parliament ahead of last year’s election Mr Pakula has also joined the AFL in a one-day a week role working as a major projects adviser.
He worked closely with the league during the Covid-19 plagued 2020-season in his role as minister for sports and major events.
He also held the racing portfolio among others across 16 years in Victorian parliament.
More Coverage
First look: next Cirque du Soleil spectacular touring Australia
Audiences in five Aussie cities are in store for a blend of “comedy and never-seen-before acrobatics” when Corteo arrives on our shores later this year. See the video.
18 per cent hike: Melb rent prices forecast to skyrocket
Alarming new research has revealed Melbourne’s rent prices could rise by as much as 18 per cent in some areas in the next 12 months. SEE WHICH SUBURBS.