Huon’s GM job scrutiny

Auditor-General to examine recruitment

HUON Valley Council’s recruitment process for general manager will be examined by Tasmania’s Auditor-General, after a report commissioned by the council cleared it of breaching the code of conduct over what it admitted was a conflict of interest.

The council last week backed its decision to appoint former TasWater employee Jason Browne (pictured) into the role, despite revelations he was in a relationship with Joanne Inches, the head of the recruitment agency appointed to assist in the process.

Deputy Auditor-General Gary Emery said an audit was already being undertaken into general manager recruitment and performance assessment for 12 other councils.

“It had been something we had considered doing for a while,” he said.

“We decided to do it this year, starting the audit fieldwork in February 2021.

“Because the recruitment for Huon Valley was undertaken recently, it fell out of the time frame for our audit work.”

Mr Emery said Huon Valley Council would now also be looked at.

“When we recently became aware of potential issues relating to Huon Valley Council’s recruitment process and in particular how it managed conflicts of interest, we decided to do some additional audit work to look at it purely for the conflict-of-interest issue,” he said.

“We felt it was in the public interest for us to do that.”

An Auditor-General’s report is due to be tabled in late October.

Huon Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association president Patrick Synge said he hoped the process might provide clarification.

“We have a new general manager who joins the HVC under a cloud,” he said.

“The entire process has been so poorly handled that it is now going to be examined by the Auditor-General.”

Mr Synge said the council needed to regain the trust of the community.

“At this stage, simple words of assurance are not sufficient,” he said.

“Now is the time to release real information, not spin.

“Council must not hide behind claims of confidentiality of personal information; it is the details of process that are important and must be released, not the personal details of any applicant.”

Huon Valley Mayor Bec Enders said the examination was welcome.

“Council welcomes the Auditor-General’s review and looks forward to considering any recommendations which may be provided as part of this review,” she said.

Mr Browne begins in the role of general manager on Tuesday.