The appointment of the new chair of the National Capital Planning Authority was a “”worst case” of the Labor mates system, according to Independent MLA Michael Moore. The new chair is Professor Evan Walker, a Minister in the Victorian Labor Government from 1982 to 1990, including Minister for Planning and Minister for Major Projects. He was appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Brian Howe.
Mr Moore said he could find no substantive publications to Professor Walker’s name.
“”So how did he get appointed professor?” he asked. “”It followed a donation to the University of Melbourne by a major developer who happened to get a major controversial project through when he was Minister for Major Projects.
“”This is one of the worst cases of a mate being appointed under the mates system _ of Mr Howe appointing one of his Labor mates.”
Mr Moore said Professor Walker had a masters degree in architecture from the University of Toronto, however, he would have expected an academic to have significant publications.
He had been appointed by Mr Howe to chair the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.
Professor Walker rejected Mr Moore’s assertions. He said that his background was professional, not academic. Universities appointed professorial fellows from time to time with those backgrounds. His position as dean was largely administrative.
While dean he did seek funding from developers for the university, “”but to suggest there was a quid pro with his position was scandalous”.
The Minister for Environment Land and Planning, Bill Wood, said he regretted Mr Moore churlish comments. He looked forward to continued good relations between the ACT and the NCPA.
Professor Walker’s appointment as part-time Dean of Architecture at Melbourne University led to controversy and court action in 1991. At one stage Professor Walker was a backbencher while holding the university post.
Sunday Age journalist Paul Robinson requested information about the appointment and the donor under the Freedom of Information Act. The university refused, but it did not deny a donation had been made.
One witness in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal suggested the donation had been made specifically for Professor’s Walker’s position; another said the university had enough money for the appointment, but the donation would “”facilitate” it.