dodgy jobs in the nbn

From todays SMH.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/how-to-get-a-450000-job-no-ads-required--just-a-nice-word-from-the-minister-20100209-no66.html

Extract..

Of all the Rudd Governments ambitious ''nation building'' plans, its scheme to plough billions of dollars into building a superfast communications network is the most risky and dubious.

But whatever the nation's need for speed when it comes to communication, it does not justify rushing decisions, cutting corners, and side-stepping good governance when it comes to deploying taxpayer funds.
The latest instance of the government's erosion of the normal processes of policy-making and public administration is the appointment of Mike Kaiser as a senior executive with NBN Co.

A highly-regarded Labor political strategist, Kaiser was appointed last November to the $450,000 a year position as head of government relations and external affairs for NBN Co, the government-owned company which is to build the $43 billion broadband network. Now we have learnt that there was a singular lack of process around this hiring - and apparently around many of the hirings at NBN Co.

Kaiser was hired after two interviews, one with Quigley (NBN Co's chief executive), and reference checks. The job was not advertised. There was no executive search process. No other candidates were short-listed.
Quigley said NBN Co had relied on similar referrals to find more than 40 per cent of its staff because it was growing rapidly. Its current 112 employees were expected to rise to 300 by June.

The problem with all of this is not Kaiser's competence for the job. Kaiser is a former ALP state secretary in Queensland. He was forced to resign as a state MP after revelations about branch-stacking in Queensland Labor.

Comment .. Hows Telstra gonna deal with this lot - very cautiously?