The board will be influential in the progress of the state government’s proposed and controversial Burswood Park racetrack and entertainment precinct.
“Bill will bring his vast skills and experience to the role at a time when there are major development plans for this important area of Perth,” Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said of Johnston’s appointment on Friday.
Labor’s former member for Geraldton, Lara Dalton, who was unseated in March, was also announced as the new chair of the Mid West Development Commission last week.
The Centre for Public Integrity has warned Labor’s moves are potentially “accommodating corruption and incompetence”.
“A lot of people appointed to these types of boards are privy to the reasons why serious political decisions were made or not made,” said Geoffrey Watson SC, a veteran of investigations into corruption among politicians and police misconduct.
“It’s confidential information and it be important that it not be misused.
“[This is] yet another example of where people are using their political power, and they’re putting the wrong people.”
WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, who has been a fierce critic of Labor’s Burswood plans, said the premier had questions to answer.
“Well it’s very convenient that Bill Johnston finds himself on the Burswood Park Board … it looks to me and many others as though this is a very convenient and cosy relationship,” he said.
“It’s yet another example of this state government doing what they please, when they want, and thinking they can get away with it.
“The premier has changed the rules without telling anybody, and the biggest beneficiaries of these rule changes are former Labor members of his parliament. The question needs to be asked, why was it changed from 12 months to six months?”
Both Ellery and Johnston are among the MPs receiving a taxpayer-funded “transition” allowance of $130,000 over nine months, used to help them adjust to life after politics.
“This allowance … may include accessing resettlement advice and services, financial counselling, re-employment counselling, training costs and any other costs incurred as the Member considers necessary,” the tribunal stated.
But Watson said WA had “the most generous parliamentary pension scheme in Australia”.
“Yet we’re seeing another way of funding the retirement, the twilight years, of these people who are already taking a huge amount of public money,” he said.
In a statement, a state government spokesperson defended the decision to slash the waiting period so it could attract the right people.
“Former members of parliament have unique experience and skills that can make them well suited to serving the community on State Government boards and committees,” the statement read.
“The state government has appointed former members of parliament from all sides of politics to government boards and committees.
“This change will help ensure the state government can attract the right people to these important institutions.”
But the issue has drawn together opposing sides of politics to criticise the government for providing “jobs for mates”, including WA Greens spokesman for open and honest government Tim Clifford.
“It just doesn’t seem right. We’ve got a democracy here that people need to trust, and this just undermines that,” Clifford said.
“The Greens have been calling for years to stop the revolving door between politicians and industry. I’ll be asking questions about this when I get back to parliament [next week].”
Zempilas claimed Cook’s priority was “making it possible for his mates to be paid after six months”.
“This is jobs for their mates, that’s what it looks like, and that’s what people are calling it.”
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