New agent general Angela Kelly denied generous travel benefits awarded to John Langoulant

Labor’s appointee for the State Government’s plumb overseas gig — the London-based Agent General — has been denied the same generous travel benefits awarded to her predecessor. Angela Kelly — a senior Premier and Cabinet Department official — was announced on Tuesday as the successor to Agent General John Langoulant, whose three-year term ends next month. But Ms Kelly, appointed to an initial term of nine months, has been denied taxpayer-funded annual leave travel despite Mr Langoulant’s contract offering him three personal flights a year for himself and his wife. The West Australian understands the shortened term is due to the upcoming State Election, and a belief that a long-term appointee should not be made until after March. A State Government spokesman confirmed while Ms Kelly’s salary would remain the same as Mr Langoulant’s — $376,000 — she would not receive the additional travel bonuses. “Contractual provisions for Ms Kelly reflect the short-term duration of the international posting and her individual circumstances. As a result, there are no annual leave travel provisions,” the spokesman said. “Mr Langoulant was appointed Agent General for a three-year term. This is consistent with the term served by the previous two Agents General. “In line with public sector provisions, leave entitlements will be paid out at the end of his contract.” Mr Langoulant’s two American getaways with his wife Jan, revealed by The West earlier this year, cost the State more than $40,000 for the return business class flights from London. On July 21 last year, Mr and Mrs Langoulant flew business class to the United States from the UK for 10 days, costing taxpayers $23,510. Less than three weeks later on August 18, the couple took another business class flight for a second 10-day trip to America, setting taxpayers back another $17,329. The purpose for both of the flights was listed as “annual leave in line with contract provisions”. Mr Langoulant’s lucrative pay and conditions have drawn criticism from the Opposition, as West Australians struggle at home with the cost-of-living crunch. In the role, the Agent-General was paid a base salary of $376,000, and another $150,000 in superannuation and allowances. Taxpayers also footed a $326,000 bill last year to house him in inner London. Liberal leader Libby Mettam has previously committed a future Liberal Government to a review of spending on WA’s overseas missions, in the wake of the revelations about Mr Langoulant’s pay. “It’s clear Roger Cook’s priorities are all wrong — while he has cut funding to charities who support the most vulnerable Western Australians, he continues to spend taxpayers’ money on overseas jobs and glitzy events for his mates,” she said. “When the London posting is with WA’s oldest trading partner, and costs far more than any other, we need to review the extravagant cost for one individual especially during a cost-of-living crisis”