Jobs for ‘mates’ accusations over new TAFE Queensland board

The state opposition has blasted the appointment of three LNP “mates” to the TAFE Queensland board, saying it contradicted Premier David Crisafulli’s pre-election rhetoric about government integrity and accountability.

Employment and Training Minister Ros Bates appointed former Devine Limited chief financial officer Vivian Grayson as chairman of the board on Friday.

Among a further six board members announced were former LNP Ferny Grove candidate Christopher Lehmann and party donor Andrew Knox, who has donated more than $5000 to the LNP since 2016. Grayson has also donated to the LNP in the past.

The Crisafulli government has reshaped the TAFE Queensland board.

In a LinkedIn post on Friday, outgoing chairman Andrew Dettmer said his sacking came as a surprise.

“Last night at 4.47pm I was informed by Minister Ros Bates that my tenure as a board member of TAFE Queensland was terminated as of 11.59pm that day – some 18 months before the expiry of my term,” he said.

Grayson had previously been thanked in the maiden speeches of two Gold Coast-based LNP MPs – state Housing Minister Sam O’Connor and federal MP Angie Bell.

“My region is served well by Viv Grayson, with his calm and collected leadership style,” O’Connor said in his 2018 speech. “There is rarely a [party] meeting that he is not at, and I thank him for his guidance.”

Employment and Training Minister Ros Bates appointed three people with LNP links to the TAFE Queensland board.Credit: Cameron Atfield

Opposition integrity spokeswoman Leeanne Enoch said the previous Labor-appointed board members were selected on their merits, not party affiliation.

“We know that the previous board members were appointed after a rigorous recruitment process,” she said.

“Firstly, they had to apply through a recruitment agency, and then the department made an assessment, and then they shortlisted.

“Because this was very quietly announced on Friday afternoon before we all went on the weekend, we don’t know anything [about the new appointments], except for the fact that these three members that have been appointed are mates of the LNP – a former candidate and a significant donor.”

Enoch said there had been a lack of transparency and accountability.

“David Crisafulli, before the election, talked a lot about building a culture of frank and fearless advice in the public service,” she said.

“How can the public service give frank and fearless advice when the board they answer to is run by LNP donors and mates?”

Two of the members from the previous TAFE board – Professor Jody Currie and Nicole Brigg – will continue in their current positions. In addition to the three new members with identified LNP links, they will be joined by Lorelei Baum, Rosemary Cole, Colleen Hope and Peta Tilse.

Announcing the appointments on Friday, Bates said the new members brought significant industry knowledge to the boardroom.

“This move sets the bedrock for TAFE Queensland to be a secure and well-performing entity,” she said.

“The pipeline providing skilled workers in Queensland has been choked for too long by Labor’s lack of respect for the value of skills training and lack of respect for taxpayers’ money.”

In opposition, the LNP was a vocal critic of Labor-aligned appointments to plum government roles, including former premier Peter Beattie’s role as 2018 Commonwealth Games chief and former Labor MP Mike Kaiser’s appointment to several high-ranking public service roles.

Kaiser was sacked as director-general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet on Crisafulli’s first day as premier.

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