The South Australian Government is spending almost $100,000 of taxpayers' money to bring a New Zealand consultant into Premier Steven Marshall's department for a month's work, in a move the Opposition says shows "appalling" hypocrisy.
A contract signed in June will see Wayne Eagleson — chief of staff to former New Zealand prime ministers John Key and Bill English — working six days a month for the Premier's Department over a five-month period.
Under the $91,500 arrangement — revealed in the State Government's public register of contracts — Mr Eagleson will spend 30 days advising the public service on "mechanisms to support the successful implementation of the Government's election commitments by the public sector".
He will also give advice on performance management for public servants, and strategic advice to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Three of his monthly work days are based in Adelaide, with the other three performed from Wellington.
The contract details a $NZ2,400 salary per day of work excluding GST, equivalent to a cost to the state of just under $2,400 per day.
Mr Eagleson's flights between Wellington and Adelaide, as well as other expenses, are being covered by the Government.
Consultant briefed public servants on new masters
The arrangement is on top of two previous visits to Adelaide in April and May, which documents released to the State Opposition under Freedom of Information reveal cost about $21,000 for fees, travel, accommodation and expenses.
During his April visit, Mr Eagleson warned public servants in a presentation that their new ministers were likely to be feeling "in a hurry to make a mark, but with caution lest they screw up", and that they would be "sometimes overwhelmed by the workload and expectations".
The presentation added that ministers were "probably dismissive of the Labor Opposition — but they know where the bodies are buried".
Mr Marshall has long had an affinity with his Kiwi counterparts, crossing the Tasman Sea several times in recent years and arguing the state has a lot of similarities to New Zealand.
'Staggering and hypocritical': Labor
Labor's Government accountability spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said it was a "staggering" revelation.
"I think every South Australian would have every reason to be outraged … on my reckoning that's a salary of $1.2 million per year," he said.
"This guy is a political consultant, he's not a consultant that you would hire in the public service.
"The idea of paying a mate $10,000 a visit I think is appalling … how could this possibly be justified?"
Mr Koutsantonis called Treasurer Rob Lucas a "hypocrite", after he last week complained about the salary of the royal commissioner leading an inquiry into the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Consultant crackdown
When in opposition, Mr Lucas railed against the former government's use of external consultants.
The Government pledged during the election campaign to cut the cost of consultants and contractors by $75 million over three years.
In a statement, a Government spokesperson said Mr Eagleson had provided "invaluable" advice.
"Mr Eagleson has notable experience in providing transitional advice to a new government," the spokesperson said.
"The upcoming state budget will implement all of our promises in relation to cutting government contractors."
