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The Mike Kaiser appointment

55 comments

The concern I have over this appointment is not so much Kaiser getting the job, but why on earth does an organisation which is 100 per cent government owned have a government relations manager in the first place, let alone one being paid $450,000?

Written by Samuel J

February 10th, 2010 at 6:56 am

Posted in Uncategorized

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55 Responses to 'The Mike Kaiser appointment'

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  1. Indeed. A good question.

    Abu Chowdah

    10 Feb 10 at 8:30 am

  2. A common problem. I used to call it “recruiting by organisation chart”
    You draw up a chart of what you think the organization should look like and then proceed to fill the holes.
    I’ll bet there is or soon will be a marketing director, HR director and tax manager.

    ken nielsen

    10 Feb 10 at 8:32 am

  3. A good question. Though any idea what a similar private level Gov Relations Manager would earn? I’m not defending Kaiser in the least (In fact I’d love to see it bring down Conroy) but Govt has to offer at least similar level pay to attract talent (Now that the public services former offer of lower pay but job security is dead).

    Also makes a joke out of how low the politicians pay is.

    Andrew Carr

    10 Feb 10 at 8:38 am

  4. Most Public Organizations that provide services have positions such as this albeit at a lower wage.

    Telstra had a department when Government owned and still has a department now.

    Why is not hard to answer. You simply need to understand how governments work.

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    10 Feb 10 at 8:59 am

  5. “Why is not hard to answer.”

    Then answer it please.

    ken nielsen

    10 Feb 10 at 9:09 am

  6. I answered the question Ken.
    A person asking this question simply doesn’t understand how Government works

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    10 Feb 10 at 9:21 am

  7. You simply need to understand how governments work.
    .
    That’s not an answer.
    e.g.;
    Question: “What causes the tides?”
    Answer: “A person who asks this question clearly does not understand how tides work.”

    daddy dave

    10 Feb 10 at 9:26 am

  8. I get Homer’s implicit point, but nevertheless think that such a role should be the responsibility of the CEO, Mike Quigley. Such a position is essentially a waste of tax-payer’s money.

    dover_beach

    10 Feb 10 at 9:45 am

  9. No Snoopy Quigley would be talking to ‘equals’ whilst most of the donkey work would be undertaken by Kaiser and others.

    government Relations means a lot more than merely making contact with government

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    10 Feb 10 at 9:55 am

  10. No Snoopy Quigley would be talking to ‘equals’ whilst most of the donkey work would be undertaken by Kaiser and others.

    People on $450000 do “donkey work”?

    government Relations means a lot more than merely making contact with government

    Yes, it means stroking the hand that feeds it. You have yet to outline why a position of this sort is necessary and that it costs approx. $450000. If the work involved is menial, i.e. “donkey work”, then surely Quigley can have one or two of his many underlings perform these ‘onerous’ duties.

    dover_beach

    10 Feb 10 at 10:08 am

  11. Watching CEO Quigley’s discomfort in front of the Senate Estimates committee I can see why such an appointment happens. Conley is a political operator who needs a ‘similar’ firewall between him and the NBN. Quigley gets the ultimatum from his political boss and finds it comfortable despite the obscene cost. Deal done.

    pablo

    10 Feb 10 at 10:21 am

  12. People on $450000 do “donkey work”?

    Homer: Job snob.

    who would’ve thunk it? I thought beggars can’t be choosers?

    jtfsoon

    10 Feb 10 at 10:25 am

  13. yes Donkey work ( Not that does not mean it is menial it means you do most of the work just like a err donkey) like Preparing Quigley for Senate hearings

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    10 Feb 10 at 10:37 am

  14. Homer,
    $450,000 is a CEO level salary; in some major organisations it may be an upper executive position. Nobody on that kind of remuneration is doing “donkey work.”
    That is an utterly stupid thing to say.

    daddy dave

    10 Feb 10 at 10:42 am

  15. in very few Organisations and he will be doing all the donkey work for Quigley unless he has minnions under him and then they will be doing it.

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    10 Feb 10 at 10:46 am

  16. yes Donkey work ( Not that does not mean it is menial it means you do most of the work just like a err donkey) like Preparing Quigley for Senate hearings

    People who prepare you for Senate hearings are not on $450000.

    in very few Organisations and he will be doing all the donkey work for Quigley unless he has minnions under him and then they will be doing it.

    If Kaiser has his ‘minnions’ preparing Quigley for Senate hearings why can’t Quigley simply have his own doing the same? The position of Government Relations Manager is essentially a non-position; if it serves any purpose it is likely to be that of ‘insider’ for government, and to make sure that the NBN is always pushing the government’s message. In other words, it is a waste of our dollars.

    dover_beach

    10 Feb 10 at 11:03 am

  17. “People who prepare you for Senate hearings are not on $450000″ is my statement, not Homer’s.

    dover_beach

    10 Feb 10 at 11:04 am

  18. OK Homer. Let’s get specific.
    The job of the NBN is to implement government policy, a large part of which has not been decided yet – technology, financing: small details like that.
    Until the NBN is told what its job is there’s isn’t much to lobby government on. Or any important senate hearings.

    I have had quite a bit of experience with government relations. The companies that manage them well do not have government relations managers.
    Those that do are by and large rent seekers. Which might explain the job.

    ken nielsen

    10 Feb 10 at 11:16 am

  19. I notice Homer is still on his knees for the ALP.

    JC

    10 Feb 10 at 11:24 am

  20. Homer understands how government works. You put unqualified party hacks who happen to be ex-cons in charge of phantom businesses.

    Simple.

    C.L.

    10 Feb 10 at 11:35 am

  21. Yea and according to Homer you can also happily install released child molesters to run child minding centers and why not have former Nazis running Holocaust museums.

    JC

    10 Feb 10 at 11:44 am

  22. Hoe long was the guy in the Slammer for. Does anyone know?

    Homer, do you know?

    JC

    10 Feb 10 at 11:46 am

  23. Ken, EVERY bank has one , every large Organisation has one.

    you have to among other things keep your eye on parliamentary proceedings for possible legislation ,
    you have Senate hearings. you need to know and have good relations with the staff on both the Minister and Opposition spokesman and in this case with other Senators……..

    Only Small organisations do not have these positions.
    They either use their employer organisation or use a public relations company ie people such as Ian Kortlang, Sue Cato , Graham Morris etc

    No I think the salary is too much however people in the private sector earn more.

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    10 Feb 10 at 12:49 pm

  24. you have to among other things keep your eye on parliamentary proceedings for possible legislation ,
    you have Senate hearings. you need to know and have good relations with the staff on both the Minister and Opposition spokesman and in this case with other Senators……..

    In other words, one of Quigley’s staff could perform this role on about $70000, no problems.

    dover_beach

    10 Feb 10 at 12:54 pm

  25. Thanks for the lesson in corporate structure of the modern firm, Homer. It was very enlightening. Perhaps you should try teaching.

    The point is why him and why not advertise the position, which has been the usual protocol for these sorts of positions.

    Then again I suppose we’ve been out of practice for 30 years as it’s the first time since then we’ve had a government and PM economically illiterate enough that would try to re-nationalize a certain segment of the economy.

    So on that score we’re sort of playing in the dark and obvious “mistakes” like hiring a hack at 450G a year in a PR job can be made… of course.

    So I’m with you in we need to cut Controy some slack here as he is after all pretty green and when you’re spending $43 billion on a white elephant 450G is a mere drop in the ocean.

    Lastly if you can’t look after your mates what sort of ALP politician are you.

    JC

    10 Feb 10 at 12:59 pm

  26. In other words, one of Quigley’s staff could perform this role on about $70000, no problems.

    Or perhaps stick Google on Auto alert and get it done for free.

    But hey, I’m with Homer on this one. 450G in the context of $43 billion that going to be wasted is a drop in the ocean.

    JC

    10 Feb 10 at 1:01 pm

  27. Ken, EVERY bank has one, every large Organisation has one.

    A convicted vote-rigger?

    C.L.

    10 Feb 10 at 1:26 pm

  28. hmm ever heard of the hidden market fellas.

    No didn’t think so. It is was happens in the private sector and it is how jobs are filled.

    CL what was he convicted f and what was the sentence?

    Quigley would have had to sign off on the deal.

    Good to see Catallaxian crackpots understand how the labour market works though

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    10 Feb 10 at 2:44 pm

  29. Good to see Catallaxian crackpots understand how the labour market works though
    LOL
    now I know how this sort of thing happens. Leftists demonize the market so much that they think it’s normal practice “in the private sector” to pay extremely high salaries for mediocre work. Therefore, they’re merely bringing the public sector up to par.

    daddy dave

    10 Feb 10 at 6:28 pm

  30. Yeah, sure Homer. Left to its own rationalising devices, the market would be extra keen to recruit an ALP hack and purveyor of fraud. Kaiser has never operated outside of the ALP’s in-house sheltered workshop in his life.

    You really are a nincompoop.

    C.L.

    10 Feb 10 at 6:30 pm

  31. Mike benefited from the statute of limitations and never got to be a con.

    Entropy

    10 Feb 10 at 7:42 pm

  32. Ken, EVERY bank has one , every large Organisation has one.

    As I said, rent seekers mostly. But no-one has explained why a government organization that has not commenced business yet (and might never) needs a position like this.
    So it does smell…

    ken nielsen

    10 Feb 10 at 8:12 pm

  33. Yes it is strange that an entity that at this stage is doing nothing more than implementing government policy and is effectively an agency of the government needs a government relations officer.

    Actually Mr kaiser is a classic example of the labour hack getting cushy jobs in the public service. They all do this sort of sleazy thing after a few years in power, and is good reason for semi regular changes of government.

    But after only two years this sort of jobs for the boys act is a bit of a worry.

    Entropy

    10 Feb 10 at 8:48 pm

  34. you have to among other things keep your eye on parliamentary proceedings for possible legislation ,
    you have Senate hearings. you need to know and have good relations with the staff on both the Minister and Opposition spokesman and in this case with other Senators……..

    I’ll do it for half the pay …

    On the other hand will I have to liaise daily with the Minister who doesn’t wash his hands after taking a slash?

    Jason Soon

    10 Feb 10 at 8:54 pm

  35. Jason’s slash reference explained here. Read about Conroy’s various other acts of revolting bastardry as well.

    C.L.

    10 Feb 10 at 9:14 pm

  36. Andrew Bolt’s now posted this as an update to a post on the same issue, thanks to “reader Christian Kerr”, but using almost identical wording to this post. No attribution to catallaxy at Bolt’s blog.

    daddy dave

    11 Feb 10 at 10:12 am

  37. I seems that others are questioning whether the job should exist http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/lets-pop-that-450k-question/story-e6frg6nf-1225828951229

    Samuel J

    11 Feb 10 at 10:12 am

  38. now we learn that in fact Quigley interviewed him a number of times and thought he was right for the job and has been doing a great job.
    how streange for Sinkers to leave that out of the record.

    yeah just how jobs are made in the private sector but the crackpots do not like that.

    Well you could say something Statman but given Concept’s record in Canberra I don’t think you would get very far.

    [I'm not the author of the post. Sinc]

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    11 Feb 10 at 10:21 am

  39. Homes you’re a twerp

    Concept in its various permutations lasted more than 10 yrs. I see you’re still mocking Henry for something its closing down over a year ago now. Which companies did you start Mr MBA?

    jtfsoon

    11 Feb 10 at 10:46 am

  40. Homer, well run companies in the private sector don’t create positions unless they really need them.

    ken n

    11 Feb 10 at 11:04 am

  41. Err Statman please read what I said very carefuly and then cogitate on it.

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    11 Feb 10 at 11:11 am

  42. yeah just how jobs are made in the private sector but the crackpots do not like that.

    But NBN isn’t the private sector (not that I find you’re allusion that this is “just how jobs are made in the private sector” particularly persuasive). We’re paying a party hack to perform a job that someone on 1/5th of the his pay could perform while doing other things.

    dover_beach

    11 Feb 10 at 11:15 am

  43. Hom r;

    You’ve made fun on Henry before so this time was the first.

    You really get a kick out of other people’s misfortunes don’t you. Is that what they teach you at Hillsong?

    JC

    11 Feb 10 at 11:36 am

  44. Snoopy I thought you would approve of the public service adopting private sector practices.

    Forrest you are an idiot.
    I didn’t say that at all. Statman merely continued his practice of being unable to read.

    I did talk about Concept’s record in Canberra which in particular a change was noted over the last 3 years from people on both sides of politics, the bureaucracy and even private sector spindoctors.

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    11 Feb 10 at 12:45 pm

  45. Snoopy I thought you would approve of the public service adopting private sector practices.
    .
    this is the problem with the public service “adopting private sector practices”, who think that means “let’s pay ourselves obscene amounts of money.”

    daddy dave

    11 Feb 10 at 1:58 pm

  46. I did talk about Concept’s record in Canberra which in particular a change was noted over the last 3 years from people on both sides of politics, the bureaucracy and even private sector spindoctors

    Can someone translate this into English?

    jtfsoon

    11 Feb 10 at 2:04 pm

  47. Snoopy I thought you would approve of the public service adopting private sector practices.

    What would make you think that? But, again, your analogy is wrong; I know of no private sector organisation that has a “private sector relations manager”.

    dover_beach

    11 Feb 10 at 2:04 pm

  48. Snoopy what do you think Corporate relations people do.You obviously do not work in the private sector!

    Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop

    11 Feb 10 at 2:07 pm

  49. I didn’t say that at all.

    Oh yes you have. Numerous times in the past taking orgasmic delight that Henry’s firm went down……. Forever mentioning it and sneering in that off- putting passive aggressive tone of yours.

    Homer, you don’t have much to worry about things as all you have to do is focus on getting through the next Centrelink interview for those transfer payments.

    JC

    11 Feb 10 at 2:11 pm

  50. Snoopy what do you think Corporate relations people do.You obviously do not work in the private sector!

    Homer, don’t try and pass off the position of Corporate Relations Manager (not a position I hold in high regard anyway) as if it where analogous to that of Government Relations Manager. To the extent that the roles coincide it could be argued that the position, Government Relations Manager, should be rolled into the current position (if it exists) of Corporate Relations Manager.

    dover_beach

    11 Feb 10 at 2:22 pm

  51. Isn’t a Corporate Relations Manager is Spin Doctor?

    tal

    11 Feb 10 at 2:35 pm

  52. Homer is Corporate Relations Manager for the ALP

    jtfsoon

    11 Feb 10 at 2:36 pm

  53. Pretty close tal.
    Used to be called PR manager then titles inflated.

    ken n

    11 Feb 10 at 2:39 pm

  54. He’s more than that… He’s a updated asexual version of Debbie as in “Debbie does Dallas”.

    In fact from now on Homer will be referred to as “Debbie”.

    Debbie never walked through the corridors of power. He knee padded through them.

    JC

    11 Feb 10 at 2:40 pm

  55. why are they tendering for the auction system for the CPRS?
    This is a policy that is not yet policy, right?

    daddy dave

    11 Feb 10 at 2:59 pm

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