Premier’s Delivery Unit adviser Peter Hanlon to be paid $60,000 for equivalent of 13 days work in 2023-24
An adviser to the Premier’s Delivery Unit will be paid an eye-watering sum for the equivalent of just 13 days of work. Find out the amount here.
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A strategic adviser to the Premier’s Delivery Unit, selected for the job by Premier Peter Malinauskas, will be paid $60,000 for the equivalent of 13 days of work.
Documents tabled in parliament revealed the figure, which the government estimated it would pay former Westpac executive Peter Hanlon for “strategic advice” over the 2023-24 year.
Delivery unit chief executive Rik Morris told a parliamentary committee last month Mr Hanlon’s rate was “approximately $600 an hour”.
Asked what competitive selection process was undertaken for his appointment, Mr Morris said “that’s a question for the Premier. I am not aware. It was the Premier’s decision to recommend him”.
Mr Morris said the advice provided by Mr Hanlon was often verbal “in the context of meetings”, and he works a mix of full and part days.
Opposition government accountability spokeswoman Michelle Lensink said the $60,000 to be paid to Mr Hanlon equated to 13 full days of work when broken down at a rate of $600/hour.
She said the decision to have Mr Hanlon give verbal advice was a boycott of transparency and accountability “because we will never know the details of the role”.
“And who approved Peter Hanlon to be paid $600 per hour? We know taxpayers stand to cough up $60,000 for this secret advice which equates to just 13 days’ work. It’s outrageous,” she said.
A government spokesman said Mr Hanlon was contracted by the Premier’s Delivery Unit in May last year “to assist in the delivery of election commitments by government agencies”.
“His contract was negotiated by the chief executive of the Premier’s Delivery Unit and Mr Hanlon is engaged at his usual corporate rate,” he said.
“His fee was independently assessed by procurement advisers to ensure it delivers value for money.”
The spokesman said actual expenditure for Mr Hanlon’s work since his appointment has been less than $36,000.
“The number provided in the answer to parliament represents an estimate for the year ahead and does not represent actual expenditure,” he said.
“Actual expenditure for 2023-24 will be disclosed in the usual way after the conclusion of the financial year.
“Expenditure for Mr Hanlon’s services contrasts with the more than $90,000 fee, plus international flights and accommodation costs, paid by the Marshall Government to former New Zealand political adviser Wayne Eagleson for 30 days of strategic advice.”
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Originally published as Premier’s Delivery Unit adviser Peter Hanlon to be paid $60,000 for equivalent of 13 days work in 2023-24
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