Rudd: Quigley doing “a great job”
- 09 February, 2010 14:25
- Comments 5
The Prime Minister has defended NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley's performance in the face of criticism for appointing former labor MP, Mike Kaiser. Quigley is pictured.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has defended the NBN Co recruitment process, saying it made an independent decision to hire Mike Kaiser as its government relations officer.
At a press conference, Rudd told journalists he “defended completely the integrity of the [recruitment] process” of the company responsible for rolling out the Government’s $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN).
“I became aware of Mr Kaiser’s appointment after it was publicly announced,” Rudd said. “This was an independent decision by NBN Co, they had three sets of interviews I think.
“Mr Quigley has explained the general recruiting processes in terms of their reliance upon various methods of appointing people.
“So we have full and complete confidence in NBN Co and the CEO is doing a great job.”
NBN Co executive chairman Mike Quigley and Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy came under fire during a Senate session this week, with the Senator being accused of using his influence to appoint Mike Kaiser, who is also a former Queensland Labor MP, to the role of NBN Co government relations officer with a salary of $450,000 per year.
“I suggested him [Kaiser] as a person of possible relevant experience,” Conroy said.
Quigley revealed at the hearing that Kaiser was the sole candidate and the job was not advertised.
Opposition communications spokesperson, Tony Smith, has lashed out at the admission in comments given to Computerworld.
“This raises serious questions about the NBN Co’s employment and management processes, and the level of political involvement and interference by the Rudd Government,” he said. “It is not the job of the Minister to suggest potential jobs for Labor mates at NBN Co.”
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Comments
Charles
Given Kevins Score card worse is better than bad
However for a man of ethics (strip clubs in the big apple I do not think the morality issue even registers)
Chris k of brisbane
Can you believe this spinning fool, first he tells us how on the ball he is and very much up to date with "Australia" Next he authorizes the spending of $43 Billion, yes $43 Billion of our tax dollars (to buy votes) then he tells us he was not aware of the senior people this Mr Quigley is employing (known law brakers) and Krudd says he is not aware, Maybe he should start being more aware of how our taxes are being spent instead of travelling over seas all the time trying to impress other countries how good he is. This Krudd just treats the Australian people as if the are fool and with contempt What a joke. Roll on elections.
Nick from Melbourne
Now our PM has added Corruption to the long list of Labor attributes. Corrupt, incompetent, aloof, dishonest, deceitful, irresponsible - the list just keeps growing. In our history, was there ever a worse government? I seriously doubt that, and so do the majority of Australians.
U HAV TO BE KIDDING ME
HOW IS THIS JUSTIFIED? ... DEMOCRACY...
JUST LIKE AMERICA ISN'T.
Don Cairns
You only need to watch question time in parliament to see how Rudd treats all who are watching like fools he never answers the questions his asked he dodges and slips and slides his way through question time, i cant understand how the press let this man get away with it , but i suppose its only a matter of time before his bought to heel, now that will be interesting .
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