Daniel Andrews’ boss of the failed try to host the Commonwealth Video games awkwardly prevented a reporter’s query when confronted about his paycheque.
Jeroen Weimar was quizzed by a Channel Seven reporter on Friday a couple of reported $160,000 taxpayer-funded payout for his half within the Commonwealth Video games flop.
However below stress from the questioning, Mr Weimar bizarrely refused to reply – and as a substitute walked off in silence earlier than circling again on himself.
Mr Weimar, who was the face of the Victorian Covid-19 response as Covid Commander, was appointed chief govt of the Video games organising committee in June 2022.
After cancelling the Video games, then-premier Andrews appointed Mr Weimar to a brand new function as Deputy Secretary of Housing Implementation – main the state’s housing coverage – which comes with a $533,000 wage.
The reporter pressed Mr Weimar about his large paycheques however regardless of her persistence he refused to offer a remark.
Deputy Secretary of Housing Implementation Jeroen Weimar was confronted by a reporter on Friday
Mr Weimar refused to reply any questions in regards to the cash he acquired after Victoria’s Commonwealth Video games had been cancelled or his new $533,000 wage
Mr Weimar is dealing with substantial criticism relating to the cash he is been incomes as a prime bureaucrat amid Australia’s price of dwelling disaster.
The reporter requested if he deserved such a considerable payout after the Video games had been cancelled, if he understood why Victorians had been upset and if it bothered him to be the topic of controversy.
To every of the questions Mr Weimr answered ‘no remark’ earlier than making an attempt to stroll away because the reporter continued her pursuit.
‘How a lot work have you ever executed in your present function,’ she requested.
‘No remark,’ Mr Weimar repeated.
Mr Weimar now works within the Division of Premier and Cupboard and trade specialists declare that he’s underperforming within the new housing function.
Labor’s goal for brand new house approvals is 80,000 per 12 months however solely 54,000 have been accredited for 2024 six-months into Mr Weimer tenure.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan defended the division and claimed that the state is ‘nonetheless within the very early levels of the rollout’ of the brand new housing coverage.
Mr Weimar was as soon as the Victorian Covid-19 response commander earlier than he was appointed chief govt of Video games organising committee in June 2022
Michael O’Brien, the Victorian shadow legal professional basic, stated that Mr Weimar must be faraway from his place.
‘I believe time is up for Jeroen Weimar,’ Mr O’Brien instructed 9News.
‘This can be a man who made a multitude of Public Transport Victoria, the COVID response, who made a multitude of the Commonwealth Video games and now he is actually been seen working away from being accountable to Victorians.’
READ MORE: Cancelled video games is state’s ‘greatest setback in many years’
Left to proper are Victorian Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan, Regional Growth Minister Harriet Shing, Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Video games Organising Committee CEO Jeroen Weimar and Premier Daniel Andrews, pictured on Tuesday, July 18, 2023
