Unwanted political advisers paid out $714k
The State Government paid out more than $700,000 to political advisers whose contracts weren’t renewed after the state election – an average of $47,600 per staffer.
Political advisers have pay-outs built into their contracts if they are given the boot. The standard termination payout is up to 16 weeks’ full pay, plus any accrued leave.
Advisers are contracted directly to the Premier and work in his office as well as for individual ministers. The positions include chiefs of staff, media advisers and policy advisers.
A Government spokesman confirmed to InDaily that contracts of 15 political staff weren’t renewed after Labor’s surprise victory.
“Following the swearing in of the new government this year, 15 ministerial staff were not offered a new contract,” he said.
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“The combined payout received by those 15 employees equals $714,585.70
“This includes separation packages and accrued entitlements such as leave.”
Despite letting the 15 staffers go, the total number of political advisers in the Weatherill Government is unlikely to change, with the Premier’s office recruiting replacement staff.
The highest profile staffer to leave after the election was Weatherill’s chief of staff Simon Blewett. However, he resigned so wouldn’t be eligible for a pay out.
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The names of all political advisers, including their salary packages, must be published in the SA Gazette every year.
That usually happens in the first weeks of the new financial year, but a notice has yet to appear.
In the previous Government there were about 80 political advisers working for State Government ministers.
Government sources insisted that number is likely to be about the same in the new Government, even slightly lower, although some recruitment is still occurring.
There are 14 ministers in the new Cabinet – an increase of one over the previous ministry, due to the inclusion of former Liberal leader Martin Hamilton-Smith.
Opposition frontbencher Rob Lucas, who keeps a close watching brief on political advisers, told InDaily he would be pursuing details about the termination payouts.
He said the average payout this year appeared to be higher than the standard 16 weeks, and he would seek details about why this was the case.
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