[LINK] NBN paychecks

[Jan Whitaker]

National Broadband Network staff rake in huge annual pay

http://www.theage.com.au/national/national-broadband-network-staff-rake-in-huge-annual-pay-20100209-nofb.html


ARI SHARP

February 9, 2010 - 12:05PM

The national broadband network may be some time from making its first 
connection, but the company established to build it is paying dozens 
of staff an average of nearly $400,000 a year.

NBN Co's wages bill for October last year was $1.5 million, it has 
been revealed to the Senate, meaning the 46 staff employed at the 
time were being paid an average $391,304 annually, led by chief 
executive Mike Quigley on $1.95 million.

Staff numbers have since grown to 112, most of which are at the 
senior levels as the company seeks to put in place the key people to 
construct the $43 billion fibre-to-the-premises network.

Opposition sources leapt on the wages bill, noting the salaries were 
"for a company that has no customers, generates no revenue and 
provides no services to anyone".

The latest figures, revealed in response to a question on notice by 
Liberal senator Nick Minchin, will add further heat to the operations 
of the broadband network.

The salary details follow the revelation yesterday that the 
$450,000-a-year government relations officer role was given to former 
Queensland Labor MP Mike Kaiser on a recommendation from 
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

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