WA’s $376k Agent General in line for pay cut, Premier says

WA’s highly paid London-based agent general could be in line for a pay cut, with the Premier admitting the $376,000 salary does not meet public expectations. Roger Cook’s confession came after The West revealed the generous details of John Langoulant’s contract, including a total of $800,000 in salary, allowances and rental assistance for a central London apartment. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Mr Cook said his decision to only appoint Angela Kelly — Mr Langoulant’s successor — for nine months was to avoid a lengthy pre-election appointment and review pay and conditions. “This, obviously, is an opportunity for us to take a fresh look in terms of that role and make sure that it’s meeting our needs and community’s expectations,” he said. “I want to review the conditions and the circumstances for the agent general to make sure they’re more in line with DFAT wages and conditions to make sure it better meets public expectations. “It’s more appropriate in a post-election environment that we make these longer term appointments.” Mr Cook has previously defended the spend on the Agent General position, saying the historic nature and seniority within the public sector justified the spend. Liberal leader Libby Mettam said Mr Cook had finally recognised that the pay deal for the agent general had been “exorbitant” and “out of touch”. “It is extraordinary that we had the agent general on over $800,000 while Western Australians are doing it tough in WA,” she said. The comments come after The West revealed Ms Kelly — a senior State Government bureaucrat — would not receive the same generous annual leave travel entitlement her predecessor had access to. Under the terms of his contract, Mr Langoulant was entitled to three business class flights at taxpayers’ expense — including two for holidays — with his wife. As part of that condition, WA taxpayers paid a $40,000 travel bill last year for Mr Langoulant and his wife to travel business class to the US twice in a month. Amid sustained cost of living pressures at home, Mr Langoulant’s salary and rental allowances drew criticism from the Opposition and the public. 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.”