Dear Editor:
On Aug. 8, Des Pearson, auditor general for Victoria, Australia, announced his retirement, after six years as auditor general. Six-year terms are the norm and a selection committee then recruits for new applicants for a new six-year term.
Applications for his replacement had to be in government by Oct. 1, 2012.
On Feb. 5, 2013, Ted Baillieu says that Des Pearson has been very critical of the government of Victoria, Australia, and now says that newly appointed auditor general John Doyle will now ensure taxpayers that their dollars are well spent.
John Doyle said the offer came after the B.C. government committee failed to unanimously re-appoint him, as reported by the committee on Jan. 5, 2013.
With applications for the job in Australia having to be in by Oct. 1, 2012, it shows that John Doyle had no intentions of staying another term in B.C.
Doyle says that he will complete his job options until October 2013 in B.C., yet Premier Ted Baillieu, of Victoria, Australia, reports that John Doyle will arrive by July 1, 2013.
This whole scenario has been blown into all-out propaganda and it is up to John Doyle to come clean with a public announcement that he had no intentions of staying another term in B.C. because, in fact, his application for the job in Australia had to be in by Oct. 1, 2012.
It should also be noted on his travel records, did he leave B.C. to go to Australia anytime after October 1, 2012? And did he fit in an interview in with the selection committee or have an interview by conference call?
It has been noted that he does take trips back to Australia on taxpayer expenses, as per his government contract. Could he have maybe gone to Australia for Christmas and fitted in an interview while he was there?
As John had nothing to lose, could he have been working on a plan to make the B.C. government look bad and the NDP look good?
Amazing that he is the auditor general and is holding back the true facts to the B.C. taxpayers.
Joe Sawchuk, by email