Fong fights for reform

Western Australia’s highest paid public servant, health supremo Neale Fong, has suffered the kind of year most people would like to forget.

He has been on the receiving end of a torrent of adverse publicity, and in his capacity as chairman of the WA Football Commission has struggled to win support for the redevelopment of Subiaco Oval.

Despite these setbacks, Dr Fong remains a highly influential figure as director general of health and chair-man of the health reform taskforce.

Irrespective of how the stadium debate ends up, Dr Fong also remains a powerful football administrator. He is a rare example of the state government recruiting a private sector business executive to take charge of one of its departments.

Dr Fong’s counterparts at other departments, such as Paul Albert at Education and Training, Greg Martin at Planning and Infrastructure, Jim Limerick at Industry and Resources and under treasurer Tim Marney, are career public servants.

While the directors generally rule the roost at their respective departments, another public servant widely regarded as very influential with the government is Gary Stokes, a one-time Labor party member and current deputy director general of Industry and Resources in charge of the Office of State Development.

In this capacity, he works closely with the head of the Office of Development Approvals Coordination, former Argyle Diamonds managing director Brendan Hammond.

Premier Alan Carpenter is clearly a fan of Mr Hammond, having spoken glowingly about Argyle’s achievements, particularly in regard to Indigenous employment.

WA Business News understands the premier was also keen for Mr Hammond to be chairman of Horizon Energy, which is responsible for power supplies in regional WA.

Another business person recruited by the government was former Clough managing director and current Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Brian Hewitt, who heads the state infra-structure strategy reference group.

Other government appointments in the past year include former BankWest managing director Terry Budge taking the post of chairman at LandCorp, and Woodside chief operating office Keith Spence being made chair of the State Training Board.