LNP-linked director Justin Parer lands plum new role after conflict concerns
Nearly two dozen had open LNP affiliations, including Parer, the son of pre-merger Young Liberal chairman and Howard government minister Warwick Parer. Electoral commission data shows the younger Parer has donated more than $70,000 to the LNP since 2016.
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Former board members and the previous conservative prime minister expressed concerns amid calls for reform to the processes used by both major parties when in power. This week it was told by the Queensland Audit Office that some of the proposed changes were “under consideration”.
what did they say
Bates also used his parliamentary speech to announce that the recently appointed Port of Townsville manager, barrister Ben Kidston, will now relinquish the role to chairman of the North Port board.
Kidston will replace law partner former chairman Russell Beer, whose last term of 10 years of leadership on the board ended last month. Beer’s most recent annual wage figure was $98,000.
Bates said the changes “complete the renewal of leadership for all 11 GOCs”. [government-owned corporation] “The committees that have taken place since the election.”
“Ports North is working to further develop the shared-use facility, including private sector involvement,” he said.
“Given the proximity of the land in which Mr Parer is interested, both the Ports North board and Mr Parer advise that the active conflict management plan is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain in practice.”
Both Parer and Binsted have been contacted for comment. This identity does not indicate that these people are not suitable or qualified for their roles.
Another perspective
Labour’s integrity spokeswoman, Leeanne Enoch, described Bates in a statement as “the LNP’s Spouses’ Job Placement Officer”.
“The donor, with a shipbuilding background, was moved from a port company to head of a power generation company in the blink of an eye by the minister.”
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