Labor-linked execs sacked in brutal pre-Christmas purge

More than half a dozen Labor or union-linked executives on government boards have been sacked in a brutal pre-Christmas purge.

Premier David Crisafulli. Picture: John Gass

More than half a dozen Labor or union-linked executives on government boards have been sacked in a brutal pre-Christmas purge by the state government, and it’s expected the bloodletting will resume in the New Year.

And an unapologetic LNP government have swiftly installed their own picks — like former Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney — across state-owned energy corporations and WorkCover Queensland.

Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie in recent days sacked Dr Anthony Lynham, a former minister under Annastacia Palaszczuk, and Queensland Council of Unions president Jacqueline King from the board of WorkCover Queensland.

It marks the first time in nearly a decade the QCU, as the overarching union body in the state, hasn’t been on the board of the organisation responsible for worker compensation insurance.

Dr Lynham and Ms King have also lost their board positions on Seqwater and CS Energy respectively.

Former Brisbane City Council Labor councillor and lawyer Kara Cook was sacked from the board of Stanwell just six months into a four-year term, though she has so far not been removed for her board position with Children’s Health Queensland.

Former Townsville mayor Jenny Hill has been removed from the board of Powerlink. Former Queensland Labor Senator John Hogg, who retired from the Upper House a decade ago was sacked from the board of Far North Queensland Ports.

Paul Lucas, who served as Deputy Premier under Anna Bligh, was axed from the Energy Queensland board as was former Toowoomba councillor and one-time Labor candidate Megan O’Hara Sullivan

Two other Energy Queensland board members — Mark Algie and Teresa Dyson — were also axed.

Acting Premier Mr Bleijie said Queenslanders had voted for a “fresh start and an end to Labor’s chaos and crisis”.

“It’s important that decision is reflected across critical government organisations and the boards that oversee them,” he said.

Former Townsville mayor, Jenny Hill.

But Ms King said sacking union figures from boards showed the government’s claims it didn’t want to go to war with the unions didn’t match with its actions.

There are at least a dozen other Labor or union-aligned executives across a range of other government health and state-owned port boards, with expectations more will be sacked in 2025.

The LNP has already installed new board members at CS Energy, Energy Queensland and WorkCover. They include former LNP Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and business bigwig Tony Bellas.

At WorkCover Queensland former Local Government Association of Queensland boss Greg Hallam will become the board’s deputy chair, with former Queensland Law Society president Chloe Kopilovic picked as chair.

The LNP’s picks at Energy Queensland are Bill Armagnacq, Corrine Butler and Leisa Rafter.

Opposition industrial relations spokeswoman Grace Grace said the sacking of board members with links to the Labor Party or unions was a disgraceful witch hunt undertaken for petty political point scoring.

Greg Hallam. Pic: Supplied.

“I just think it’s extremely in poor taste and goes to show how ruthless these people are,” she said.

“They want to hand-pick their people like they hand-picked the people on the Olympic authority (in-charge of the 100 day review). It lacks integrity, it lacks independence.”

Letters, signed by the relevant Ministers including David Janetzki and Ros Bates or Jarrod Bleijie, were sent to sacked board members last week informing them their positions had been terminated effective immediately.

“We thank you for your contribution for your service and contribution … and wish you all the best in your future endeavours,” the letter stated.

Ms Cook, in a post to social media, noted in a 10 day span the LNP government had moved to sack her from the Stanwell board and her husband Joshua Creamer as chair of the defunct truth-telling inquiry.

“While this chapter closes abruptly, I leave Stanwell with immense gratitude,” she said.

“It was a privilege to contribute to their vision of powering Queensland’s future.”

Many Labor or union affiliated board members that been sacked.

Originally published as Labor-linked execs sacked in brutal pre-Christmas purge