Victorian Premier backs Jeroen Wiemar appointment to housing post
Premier Jacinta Allan has defended the appointment of former covid and Commonwealth Games chief Jeroen Weimar to a new leadership role. She insists the recruitment process was above board but the opposition is demanding an investigation into why the role with its half a million dollar annual salary wasn't publicly advertised.
Transcript
00:00 He became a familiar face during the pandemic, tasked with finding the origins of thousands
00:07 of COVID cases.
00:08 We've had a total of 220 cases.
00:12 Now Jerome Weimar will be responsible for overseeing the government's plan to build
00:16 800,000 homes.
00:17 We are talking about an individual who has enormous experience and expertise in working
00:24 in some of the most complex and challenging policy areas.
00:29 The former chief of the failed Commonwealth Games Organising Committee will head up the
00:33 government's Housing Statement Implementation Group on a six-month contract with an annual
00:38 salary of around half a million dollars.
00:41 The government says it wants to build 80,000 homes a year and yet it's put in charge a
00:46 fellow who has no record of service in delivering housing.
00:51 The opposition's criticised the appointment and questioned why the plan position wasn't
00:55 publicly advertised.
00:57 This Jobs for Mates scandal stinks.
01:00 He was absolutely appointed appropriately by the Secretary of the Department of Premier
01:05 and Cabinet.
01:06 The Premier insists Jerome Weimar is the right person for the job.
01:10 He's held roles in the Victorian public service for nine years, including senior positions
01:15 with Public Transport Victoria, V/Line and VicRoads.
01:20 And I note someone who was recruited to Victoria to work as a senior executive in Public Transport
01:27 Victoria by the former Liberal government.
01:30 Last year the Ombudsman uncovered evidence of rushed and shoddy recruitment practices
01:35 in the Victorian public service, with ministerial staff appointed to jobs without being advertised.
01:42 The opposition will be demanding an investigation into Jerome Weimar's appointment when Parliament
01:47 returns next week.
01:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]