Marney to keep salary
Former under-treasurer Tim Marney will retain his annual salary of $429,000 to head up the Mental Health Commission, despite his predecessor Eddie Bartnik earning $265,000 a year.
It was revealed in Parliament yesterday that Mr Bartnik vacated his position as commissioner on Monday despite his contract not expiring until August 2015.
The leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Peter Collier, said that after discussions with Public Sector Commissioner Mal Wauchope, Mr Bartnik had been transferred to "other functions in the senior executive service".
Mr Marney's Government contract expires on June 19, 2015, and Mr Bartnik's runs until August 15, 2015, but both were redeployed under a section of the Public Sector Management Act which maintains their original salaries.
Shadow mental health minister Stephen Dawson said it appeared Mr Bartnik had been "moved on" to accommodate Mr Marney.
Mr Marney told _The Weekend West _ this month he had sought the position after "it came up in discussions with (Mental Health) Minister (Helen) Morton that she was looking for someone".
