A job advertisement for a principal policy advisor with the Latrobe Valley Authority – based in Melbourne – has sparked a war of words between the state government and the opposition.
The high-level, full-time job is being advertised by the state government with a salary range of between $115,136 and $154,076.
Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath claims the position should be based in the Latrobe Valley.
“Strategic vision and policy for our region should be located within the Latrobe Valley,” Ms Bath said.
“We have people with expertise who have connections to community, industry knowledge, and connections with local government that would fit this role.
“They are basically being disadvantaged because in order to obtain that position, they’re going to have to relocate to Melbourne.”
Ms Bath said the state government gave a commitment to base all jobs LVA jobs in the Latrobe Valley before it was established prior to the closure of the Hazelwood Power Station in March 2017.
“[Premier Daniel Andrews] emphatically said the LVA would be run in the Latrobe Valley and not from Melbourne or further afield,” Ms Bath said.
“He’s going back on his word and that to me reflects a very city-focused premiership.
“The Premier needs to put his money where his mouth is. He said that the Latrobe Valley Authority would be focused within the Latrobe Valley yet we are seeing jobs and decisions being based in Melbourne.”
However, a spokesman for the Premier’s office said the state government was creating jobs and building on the region’s future through the Latrobe Valley Authority.
The spokesman said there were 28 staff based in the Latrobe Valley who reported to Department of Premier and Cabinet while another six staff based in Melbourne were responsible for liaising and coordinating with other government departments.
“We won’t take lectures from the National Party,” the spokesman said in a statement.
“They abandoned the Valley when the community needed their government the most during the mine fire, they axed regional government offices in Gippsland and closed TAFE campuses, and if given the chance would do it again.”
In a statement, Latrobe Valley Authority chief executive Karen Cain also defended the organisation and said staff were supporting the transition of the region’s economy and working with businesses and affected workers during that period.
“These local staff are supported by a team of six staff in Melbourne who are liaising and coordinating other state government areas and ensuring the priorities of the Latrobe Valley are heard and responded to at the highest levels of government,” Ms Cain said.
“For example, there are staff in Melbourne working with Sport and Recreation Victoria, Collingwood Football Club and other state and national sporting codes who are based in Melbourne to bring the best sporting events and talent here to Latrobe Valley.
“We need people in Melbourne to help coordinate and keep the momentum of the significant amount of work being undertaken by the Latrobe Valley Authority going at the metro level – and that’s what these staff do.”
