Page 3287 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 19 October 2022
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scandals, the appointment of former Labor minister Gordon Ramsay as CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation.
This is another example of a Labor-Greens government minister trying to avoid blame for irregularities in their portfolio, hiding behind process and the government board that they appoint. Will any of the ministers in this government stand up and do the right thing—take responsibility for their portfolios, demonstrate integrity and call out their jobs for mates culture?
The Cultural Facilities Corporation example has an extra dimension to it. Not only did the former Labor minister get the CEO role—an individual whose only prior experience in the arts was his ministerial position and whose only substantive prior management experience was running the Uniting Church in Kippax. While that is a worthy role, I do not think it necessarily recommends itself to managing a multimillion-dollar arts organisation. After a supposedly competitive national process, are we really supposed to accept that, with 24 other applicants, Mr Ramsay was the best person for the job?
It is important to look at the time line. Mr Ramsay lost his seat at the October 2020 election. He was immediately awarded a contract position in the Chief Minister’s office, for his alleged skills as a legal professional. In May 2021 the longstanding and well-respected CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation, Harriet Elvin, gave notice that she would be leaving her post. She undertook to stay on until a suitable replacement could be found. We heard in estimates that what seemed like it should have been a thorough recruitment process was undertaken in the second half of 2021. Apparently, it was a national recruitment effort. Then, in November 2021, somehow a former Labor minister, Gordon Ramsay, commenced in the role as the new CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation. In May Ms Elvin gave notice. In November Ms Elvin left her post. In May Mr Ramsay was appointed CEO of the gambling alliance. In November Mr Ramsay commenced his role as the new CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation.
As a long-term public servant, I am a staunch believer in the merit principle. The most capable and suitable person should be appointed to any job, no matter what level, irrespective of their political connections. Mr Ramsay was so obviously ill-qualified to head up this significant and important government-funded arts organisation in the ACT. His astoundingly limited prior experience as “CEO” for a very convenient period of time certainly raises eyebrows. Even if we do give Mr Ramsay’s appointment the benefit of the doubt, which we did initially, when it was first announced, the events that occurred in the first half of this year, 2022, should leave us in no doubt as to the dodginess of this entire saga. Almost immediately after he commenced in his role as CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation, Mr Ramsay created a brand-new position: chief of staff. That is a role that is paid over $150,000 and was never necessary before. The government seems to think that this was also fair and competitive.
Let us have a look at the time line and the facts. First, this is a newly created role—created personally by Mr Ramsay. Second, this role was initially advertised as a temporary role in January 2022. I am sure public servants will understand the significance of this timing—a time many would avoid if they wanted to find the best
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