Energy chief rakes in $ 1m

EXECUTIVES at Townsvillebased Energy Queensland and James Cook University are earning salaries up to $ 1 million, annual reports show.

That amount is understood to be about the same paid to our top sportsman Johnathan Thurston is his final year of football.

Next come top medical officers and executives at The Townsville Hospital, who are paid up to $ 600,000.

Townsville recruitment professional and managing director of TP Human Capital Clayton Cook said the amount paid to our top professionals often depended on supply and demand in their chosen fields.

He also noted double standards in attitudes to pay rates.

“Some people will bag the executive but they won’t necessarily have an issue with the highly paid sportsperson,” Mr Cook said.

According to the Energy Queensland 2017- 18 annual report, CEO David Smales took home a total of $ 1.05 million.

Energy Queensland’s eight key management personnel, including Mr Smales, were paid a total of $ 5.26 million.

James Cook University’s 2017 annual report shows its top executive officer, understood to be Vice Chancellor Sandra Harding, was paid in a range of $ 975,000 to $ 989,000.

Among eight executive officers at JCU, one was paid between $ 810,000 and $ 824,999 and another between $ 570,000 and $ 584,999.

Performance bonuses can also be paid at the university, capped at 10 per cent for the deputy vice chancellors and 15 per cent for the senior deputy vice chancellor and vice chancellor. According to the Townsville Hospital and Health Service 2018 report, executive director medical services Andrew Johnson was paid $ 599,000, while board chair Tony Mooney earned $ 106,000.

The Townsville City Council 2017- 18 annual report shows it had one senior management employee, likely to be CEO Adele Young, paid in a range of $ 400,000 to $ 500,000 and two between $ 300,000 and $ 400,000.

Mayor Jenny Hill had a remuneration package of $ 198,387 and expenses of $ 26,209. The 2017- 18 annual report of listed Townsville dental group 1300SMILES shows its managing director was paid just $ 90,400 but with a holding of almost 60 per cent of the company’s stock will have taken home a final dividend of about $ 1.7 million.