Latrobe Valley Authority hires CEO with Labor links for second time in a row

A key taxpayer-funded body in the Latrobe Valley has come under fire after hiring a chief executive with links to the Labor Party for the second time in a row.

A key taxpayer-funded body in the Latrobe Valley has come under fire after hiring a chief executive with links to the Labor Party for the second time in a row.

A key taxpayer-funded body in the Latrobe Valley has come under fire after hiring a chief executive with links to the Labor Party for the second time in a row.

The Andrews Government on Thursday revealed Chris Buckingham had been appointed to the top job at the Latrobe Valley Authority, which was set up to manage the economic fallout of the Hazelwood power station closure.

The initial chief executive, Karen Cain, faced criticism in 2017 when it was revealed she had been a Labor branch president before receiving the six-figure job.

But Mr Buckingham also has links to the party, running for Labor in the seat of McMillan and previously working for MP Harriet Shing.

A Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions spokeswoman said the recruitment was managed through the public service, rather than politicians.

“The recruitment process was led by an independent executive search firm on behalf of the department, as is common practice with senior positions across the public service,” she said.

“A panel, including departmental representatives and an independent member oversaw the interview process.”

The Yallourn coal-fired power station. Picture: Jason Edwards

Victoria Nationals leader Peter Walsh said the government should have declared Mr Buckingham’s links with the party.

“Another Labor mate gets a plum deal, this time paid hundreds of thousands to administer an authority that has no funding or grants to administer,” he said.

“The Labor Government’s policy agenda has decimated jobs and career opportunities in the Valley, yet Daniel Andrews has appointed one of his Labor mates to run the very authority that’s supposed to lead the region’s recovery.”

The Latrobe Valley Authority received $26.9 million for funding in the 2020-21 state budget.

Of this $13.8 million was for staff up until June 2022 and another $13.1 million for program funding until June 2021.

No additional money was announced in the latest budget, with critics lashing the fact that grants funding was not extended past what had already been announced up to the middle of this year.

Chief executive of the Casey Cardinia Library Chris Buckingham. Picture: Penny Stephens

Bronwyn Kerr, owner of Traralgon’s Shaky Spear Milk Bar in Traralgon, said a lot of locals had questioned what the authority had achieved.

“It seems a bit like shuffling loyalty rewards,” she said.

“We’ve had a couple of crappy outcomes.

“A lot of my business friends have questioned the authority and its effectiveness

’It’s tough to see when perhaps a third of its budget goes to wages … It’s not attracting anything to the region that I can see.”

LaTrobe City councillor Graeme Middlemiss, who has previously been publicly critical of the authority, backed Mr Buckingham.

“I’ve know him for years (and) if they're going to appoint a new chief executive I’m comfortable with him.”

A view overlooking the former township of Yallourn, towards the Hazelwood power station. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Mr Buckingham has worked across different levels of government and was recently the chief executive at Casey Cardinia Libraries.

Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said:

“We thank the inaugural Chief Executive Officer Karen Cain for her leadership of the LVA and for building an important foundation and supporting strong jobs growth for the region.”

Eastern Victoria MP Harriet Shing said the body would be crucial to the Latrobe Valley’s “ongoing economic diversification”

“I am looking forward to working with the new Chief Executive Officer to build on what has already been achieved by the LVA.”