Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is poised to appoint a former regional mayor from his NSW electorate of New England as chairman of the federal government’s independent infrastructure advisory panel on a six-figure salary.
The opposition used Federal Parliament on Tuesday to attack Mr Joyce’s links to Col Murray, who retired after 11 years as mayor and four terms on the Tamworth Regional Council earlier this month, accusing Mr Joyce of showing “contempt for impartial infrastructure advice”.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is planning to appoint a former Tamworth mayor as chair of the Infrastructure Australia board.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
He is expected to be announced as the chairman of Infrastructure Australia, an independent statutory body that provides research and advice to all levels of government and industry on projects and reforms relating to investment in infrastructure, on Thursday. The body’s latest list of priority projects, announced earlier this year, had a combined value of at least $59 billion.
Mr Murray, who told magazine The Monthly last year that he was “a fairly solid Barnaby supporter”, has a history in the construction industry and has chaired several regional local government lobby groups during his career in local government. He is also on the board of the University of New England.
Labor’s infrastructure spokeswoman Catherine King criticised Mr Murray’s appointment during Question Time, contrasting him with the first chair of the body, former British Airways CEO and News Corp director Sir Rod Eddington.
She said her side of politics had established Infrastructure Australia to provide impartial advice to governments and industry across the country.
“Labor appointed an internationally renowned infrastructure expert as inaugural chair, showing our commitment to Infrastructure Australia’s mission,” she said.
“Under law, appointments to the Infrastructure Australia board must be based on skills and experience in the field. Last time I checked, supporting Barnaby Joyce was not in the selection criteria.”
Responding to Ms King, Mr Joyce said Labor was showing disrespect for regional Australia by criticising Mr Murray’s credentials.
Barnaby Joyce to appoint former Tamworth mayor to chair Infrastructure Australia
Source: Philippines Alive
