In other news:

• Changing of guard at LGA
• Senior Finance bureaucrat appointed as parliamentary budget officer
• Legal fraternity farewells former ICAC commissioner

Sunshine Coast mayor to serve second term as LGAQ president

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson has been re-elected to lead the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) for another four years.

Cr Jamieson says he will continue to work with his local government colleagues to come back from the “huge curve ball” thrown to the sector by COVID-19.

“We all know there is a long, hard road ahead, while we seek to bring our communities through the pandemic and the long economic recovery phase we are now confronting,” he said.

Cr Jamieson says water security and wastewater will be a key focus for him, as well as coastal hazard adaptation and the sustainability of First Nation councils.

“Importantly, for all councils, finally getting some greater certainty from the Queensland Government – no matter who holds office after October 31 – on annual grant funding, is a nut that must be cracked once and for all,” he said.

Sam Tefler hands over LGA presidency

City of Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Evans has been elected as South Australia’s new LGA President, replacing Sam Tefler and beginning her term at the end of the month.

This position is elected by the Association’s 68 member councils, and is alternated between metropolitan and regional councils.

Cr Tefler says he’s proud to have led the LGA during a period of change and reform for the local government sector over the last two years.

“I will be continuing in the position of Immediate Past President, and I look forward to working with Mayor Evans and my fellow Board Directors over the coming term,” he said.

New deputy mayor for Melville

City of Melville Councillor June Barton will serve as deputy to Mayor George Gear for a one year term following her election at the October Ordinary Meeting of Council.

Cr Barton has held many roles in local government as an employee and an elected member.

She is a member of the Western Australian Local Government (WALGA) South Metropolitan Zone and a Deputy Member of the Safer Melville Advisory Committee.

She previously served as Mayor from 1989 to 1995.

Kate Webber appointed as Lismore City exec

Private sector lawyer Kate Webber has been appointed as Lismore City Council’s Executive Director of Corporate Services, replacing Graeme Towers who was employed on a short-term contract.

Ms Webber’s career has focussed on risk and compliance, governance, project management and business improvement.

She has worked for Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, the National Australia Bank and Deloitte and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Webber says she’s looking forward to bringing her commercial experience to drive improvements across corporate services  at a time when councils are under pressure to deliver better services at lower cost.

Stein Helgeby appointed as new parliamentary budget officer.

Former Finance deputy secretary Stein Helgeby has been appointed as the new parliamentary budget offficer for four years from November 18.

Dr Helgeby brings with him a background in public policy, fiscal policy, economic analysis and Commonwealth budget framework. He has also held a number of roles within the Commonwealth and Victorian Public Service.

The PBO improves transparency around fiscal and budget policy issues, confidential costing services to all parliamentarians, and publishes a report after every election that shows the fiscal implications of major parties’ election commitments.

In his new job Dr Helgeby will be responsible for providing independent and non-partisan analysis of the budget cycle, fiscal policy the financial implications of proposals, post-election report and research.

New Chair of Melbourne And Olympic Parks Trust

Patrick Flannigan has been appointed incoming Chair of Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, taking over from Russell Caplan whose term expires on 31 October.

Mr Flannigan, a long-standing director of the National Broadband Network, has been a member of the Trust since 2016 and currently chairs its People and Remuneration Committee.

Mr Flannigan has 30 years of experience in the infrastructure and industrial services sectors, most recently as the managing director of Utility Maintenance Systems.

The Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust manages Victoria’s largest sports and entertainment complex including Rod Laver, Melbourne and Margaret Court arenas, the National Tennis Centre, AAMI Park, the Holden Centre, Olympic Park Oval and Gosch’s Paddock training fields.

Mr Flannigan takes the reins from Mr Caplan who has overseen the transformation of the Melbourne and Olympic Parks precinct, including chairing the project steering committee for the near $1 billion Melbourne Park redevelopment.

WA silk to ensure integrity of integrity body

Matthew Zilko be tasked with ensuring the integrity of WA’s anti-corruption watchdog after being appointed parliamentary inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC).

He’ll will fill position left vacant by the late Justice Michael Murray

The Parliamentary Inspector investigates complaints against the CCC

 Mr Zilko has appeared as counsel in hundreds of trials in all Western Australian courts and tribunals, the Federal Court and High Court in both criminal and civil matters.

He has sat as a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, is an arbitrator and mediator who has conducted about 200 cases, and chairs the Legal Practice Board.

He will take up the full-time role on November 23, 2020 for a five-year term.

Former Meriton director to chair property development lobby group

Former Meriton director Peter Spira as been elected as incoming Chair of the Urban Taskforce, replacing Peter Daly.

Chief Executive Tom Forrest said Mr Spira had been a “loyal friend” of the property developer lobby group for many years.

As Meriton for GM for over 30 years he was a member of the Urban Taskforce Executive Committee and served as Deputy Chair until 2014.

“Peter comes with a wealth of experience in property development, construction, architecture, corporate governance and affordable housing”, Mr Forrest said.

Mr Forrest said Mr Spira saw Meriton through the early 90’s recession and the 2008 GFC and was the right man to lead the Urban Taskforce during uncertain times.

 RobertsDay integrates with Hatch

Urban solutions company RobertsDay has joined engineering and project implementation consultants Hatch in a partnership that it says will provide a multidisciplinary place-led design service.

Hatch’s experience across 150 countries and RobertsDay’ focus on Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East will help deliver ideas and solutions to clients globally, RobertsDay says. 

 “Through our partnership with Hatch we will be better positioned than ever to service our existing clients as well tackle the world’s most complex urban development and infrastructure challenges,” founder Mike Day said in a statement.

Vale David Ipp

Former ICAC Commissioner David Ipp has been mourned by the legal profession after his death on October 8.

Mr Ipp is presided over a number of key investigations by the NSW integrity body including Operation Jasper which investigated the Obeid Family’s involvement in a coal deal.

A South African emigrant, Mr Ipp was appointed to the West Australian Supreme Court after just eight years practicing in the jurisdiction in the fastest elevation to a judicial appointment in the state’s history.

He moved to Sydney to take up an appointment to the NSW Court of Appeal but continued to have an impact on the Western Australian legal framework through parliament’s adoption in 2003 of reforms recommended in his national review of negligence laws.

During his legal career Mr Ipp also served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji.

He announced his resignation as ICAC Commissioner in 2013 citing back pain that prevented him from sitting for long periods of time.

Have we missed any appointments or news about comings and goings? Email us as editorial@governmentnews.com.au