Tasmania’s Co-ordinator General John Perry on base salary of $399k

TASMANIA’S inaugural Co-ordinator General — signed up on a base salary of $399,000 — is earning more than Premier Will Hodgman.

TASMANIA’S inaugural Co-ordinator General is earning more than Premier Will Hodgman, the Department of State Growth annual report has revealed for the first time.

Co-ordinator General John Perry, who has been subject to calls for his role to be disbanded because of a lack of outcomes, is on a salary of $446,000, including $38,000 of superannuation.

His base $399,000 salary also means the Launceston-born Mr Perry, recruited from New York, is on more than the man who runs the department his office reports to.

State Growth secretary Kim Evans is on a base salary of $335,000 and a total package of $419,000. Mr Hodgman earns a package of $340,000.

Launceston-born Co-ordinator General John Perry was recruited from New York.

The details of Mr Perry’s salary have again prompted calls by the State Opposition for the role to be disbanded.

In May Opposition leader Bryan Green told the Mercury a Labor government would abolish the office and return the responsibility of attracting and co-ordinating investment to the Department of State Growth.

Mr Perry outlined his role in the annual report saying his office “has responsibility for facilitating major projects, promoting competitiveness and promoting Tasmania as a destination for direct investment”.

“Major Projects are characterised as projects that have either a minimum private investment of $5 million, create 25 full time jobs or are of key significance to the state,” Mr Perry said.

He said he was progressing a range of such projects, including a hotel and hospitality training facility at Kangaroo Bay on Hobart’s Eastern Shore and “an anticipated $50 million manufacturing plant in Northern Tasmania”.

Mr Green said Mr Perry’s salary would shock Tasmanians.

“Over the life of this Government taxpayers are looking at a $2 million bill ... Tasmanian people are not getting value for money,” he said.

Mr Perry said the office also was accountable for overseeing and facilitating the Northern Cities Major Development Initiative, the Expressions of Interest program for appropriate and sensitive developments in Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves and helping proponents with big investments.