State government withdraws Parole Board appointment

The Miles government has suffered an embarrassing slapdown from one of its own MPs, forcing it to shelve the appointment of a new Parole Board president before the state election.

Labor MP Peter Russo critical of Parole Board appointment. Picture: Richard Walker

The Miles government has suffered an embarrassing slapdown from one of its own MPs in its final days, forcing it to shelve the appointment of a new Parole Board president before the state election.

Cabinet last week endorsed NSW prisons inspector Fiona Rafter, wife of Queensland District Court judge Anthony Rafter, to replace former Parole Board president Michael Byrne KC who quit under a cloud of controversy in June.

But the government has sensationally withdrawn the appointment after it was criticised by Labor MP Peter Russo, who chairs the parliamentary committee responsible for the Parole Board.

Former Parole Board president Michael Byrne KC. File picture

The Courier-Mail understands Mr Russo wrote to the government last week criticising what he saw as a failure to properly consult his committee over Ms Rafter’s appointment.

In the letter, Mr Russo told Corrective Services Minister Nikki Boyd that he did not consider that the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee had been adequately consulted.

The Courier-Mail does not suggest Ms Rafter is not qualified for the role.

Another committee member, Noosa independent MP Sandy Bolton, is also understood to have written to the government expressing concern.

Ms Boyd is understood to have withdrawn the appointment, on the instructions of the Premier’s office, before it was due to be formally approved by Governor Jeannette Young last Thursday. The committee held a last-minute meeting on Monday but failed to resolve the impasse.

The backflip is a major embarrassment for the government and a bitter blow for Ms Rafter, who as Parole Board president would have received the same salary as a Supreme Court judge – $500,140 a year plus a 60 per cent pension for life.

Deputy LNP Leader Jarrod Bleijie labelled it was an “ egregious abuse of power”, saying Labor was attempting to ram through an appointment without adequate consultation

Originally published as State government withdraws Parole Board appointment