JENNIFER MATHEWS MAY BE CULLED

Jennifer Mathews

It is not an unfathomable equation why WA finances read like a Stephen King novel, - GST + 41 (Government Departments) + 41(Highly paid Department Heads) =`economic disaster including a local housing market horror story.

The Director General of the Department of Local Government (and Communities), Jennifer Mathews, has now made the hit list of those department heads who may have to seek a new direction, re-join the general public- and look for a job.

And- the new leader of the Opposition, Mike Nahan, may be in opposition for a lot longer than he thinks. He seems to feel that his WA Public Sector, Department Heads, were the best since sliced bread, being, apparently,  ‘the best people possible’.

With less than 50% of Local Government Areas meeting even the basic requirements of good governance and financial accountability , Nahan is wrong, and Matthews’ should have a 100% chance of losing her job.

Add the facts that, under Ms. Mathews watch, one city council has been sacked, the Shire of York suspended, Dowerin robbed blind, the WACCC investigating a string of councils including Exmouth and Port Hedland and the Lord Mayor of the City of Perth with a passport full of undeclared junkets, Mr. Nahan has a strange interpretation of what ‘best’ means.

As of today the media euphemism for see-you-later being “Agency Heads whose Future is Uncertain” includes the inimitable, mal-functioning Mathews.

Mr. Nahan may not be aware that WA has always been called the ‘Nanny State’ and there is a good reason why. It is claimed that we have 41 Government Departments compared to Victoria’s 7, New South Wale’s 10, and South Australia’s 22,  with 140 Local Government Areas that is over 30%  of Australia’s total.

All this for just 2.4 million people.

Ms. Mathews is another public servant who probably thought she deserved respect, without ever earning it.