'Jobs for mates' crosses Parliament

THE state government has appointed dozens of Coalition backers and former MPs - including one of Ted Baillieu's relatives - to plum positions on boards and agencies around the state.

 Despite Mr Baillieu slamming the former Labor government every time a so-called ''jobs for mates'' scandal emerged, little appears to have changed since the Coalition came to office two years ago.

An analysis of appointments in health - where Victoria and Canberra continue to trade blows over hospital funding - shows many positions have been given to former ministers, MPs, political staffers and party officials.

For instance, Kennett government minister Mark Birrell was made the deputy chairman of VicHealth, former health minister Robert Knowles was appointed to the Royal Children's Hospital board, former Caulfield MP Helen Shardey was made chairwoman of The Alfred hospital, and former Nationals MP Noel Maughan was appointed chairman of Goulburn Valley Health.

The water industry is similar. Former Kennett government treasurer Alan Stockdale is chairman of City West Water, former minister Geoff Coleman is on the board of Westernport Water, and former upper house MP John Vogels is on the Wannon Water board.

Mr Baillieu's brother-in-law Graeme Stoney - a former MP - was granted a role on the board of VicForests, while some of the Premier's former top aides have also received government roles.

They include Michael Kapel, Mr Baillieu's friend and former chief of staff, who is now based in San Francisco as the Commissioner for the Americas, and Di Rule, who was a key adviser to Mr Baillieu in his early years as opposition leader, and is now on the board of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority.

The appointments are among dozens in the past two years given to government associates. Mr Baillieu's spokeswoman Kate Walshe insisted that all were made after an ''extensive selection process to identify qualified, skilled and experienced individuals for the position, unlike the previous Labor government who unashamedly made partisan appointments without regard to their ability or experience to perform the duties of the role''.

Opposition scrutiny of government spokesman Martin Pakula rejected this claim, accusing the government of blatant hypocrisy. ''Having once been horrified by jobs for the boys, Mr Baillieu has now made an art form of it,'' he said. ''If you have ever been a Liberal MP, candidate or staffer, you're pretty much home and hosed for a cushy government gig.''

Appointing party ''mates'' has long been an issue at Spring Street. Former Labor premier Steve Bracks came under fire early in his first term for appointing an old friend, Jim Reeves, to head the Urban and Regional Land Authority.

Mr Baillieu was then opposition planning spokesman and a vociferous critic of the decision, citing it as an example of ''special access'' for government mates. A decade later, his government picked Liberal Party stalwart Peter Clarke - Mr Baillieu's close friend - to lead planning authority Places Victoria.

theage.com.au 3 Feb 2013

The 'Money for Mates' fraud, has been around for quite some time.

Many factors come into play, where also the membership to the Masonic brotherhood counts if all else fails, of which the corporate media under no circumstances is allowed to mention this well known fact.

Their 'mates' obtain positions fraudulently, and under Australian law, should be sacked for misrepresenting, but by whom, their mates or brotherhood buddies? They should be taken to court by the 'people'.

Another fraud supported by all concerned in government and authority.