MIRABELLA QUESTIONS APPOINTMENT OF MDBA CEO
17-May-2011
Federal Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella MP has raised concerns over the appointment of new Murray Darling Basin Authority Chief, Rhondda Dickson.
Dr Dickson was appointed by Federal Water Minister, Tony Burke after the recent departure of Rob Freeman from the top job.
Mrs Mirabella has questioned the process of the appointment and suggested the MDBA risks losing its independence.
“The appointment of a new CEO should have been made by the board, not by the Minister,” said Mrs Mirabella.
“The public have already lost confidence in the Government’s ability to handle the Murray Darling Basin Plan and the manner in which Dr Dickson was appointed smacks of political interference.
“They appointed an ex Labor Minister to Chair the Board and didn’t even allow that board to appoint a CEO of their own. The Murray Darling Basin Authority is supposed to be an independent authority, not a group of ‘yes men’.
“In less than 6 months, the MDBA lost half of its board members. The Minister appointed a Labor mate to the Chair, and now they’re interfering with management. It’s now wonder people have lost confidence in Labor’s ability to handle this process,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.