Opposition Leader John Pesutto has asked the Victorian Ombudsman to investigate the appointment of Jeroen Weimar as Deputy Secretary of Housing Implementation in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
It follows an admission by Premier Jacinta Allan that she had conversations with the head of the department, Jeremi Moule, about Mr Weimar’s appointment and there were no other candidates for the position.
Mr Pesutto referred the appointment of Mr Weimar to Ombudsman Deborah Glass “on the basis that it appears to have been made in the absence of the necessary accountability, transparency and merit-based recruitment process”.
In a damning report into the alleged politicisation of the public sector released last December, Ms Glass condemned the “frequent side-stepping of merit-based recruitment processes” by government agencies, including the hand picking of candidates into roles without an advertised process.
Mr Pesutto said: “It’s only appropriate that we request the Ombudsman investigate the appointment of Mr Weimar as a matter of urgency as it raises the same concerns that her report warned against in terms of public perception of the politicisation of the public service.
“The Premier must also fully explain her role in securing the position for Mr Weimar given he has no experience in housing and, until a few months ago, was the head of the Commonwealth Games organising committee.
“The Commonwealth Games debacle has cost Victorian taxpayers at least $600 million and trashed the state’s reputation.
“Victoria’s housing crisis is too important and it’s simply not good enough to be gifting plum, $500,000 jobs to mates.”
