Slashing the number of high-paid senior bureaucrats in Western Australia's public service has only seen the so-called fat cats replaced by costly consultants, the opposition says.
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A report tabled in parliament last week revealed South Africa-headquartered Investec was paid $440,000 for advice on the potential privatisation of betting agency TAB in the half year to December 31.
Opposition Leader Mike Nahan said Premier Mark McGowan had kept an election pledge by making more than 100 of the highest paid senior public servants redundant but the move was short-sighted as his government had to look elsewhere for advice.
"Now we know he is replacing many of those so-called fat cats with even fatter cats called consultants," Dr Nahan told reporters on Tuesday.
"He is hiring a record number of consultants to advise him on issues people he laid off at great cost would have done."
Mr McGowan said it was important to properly assess any TAB sale to ensure there was no detriment to the racing industry.
"It's unfortunate but these costs are there when you want to do these sorts of things," Mr McGowan said.
"I'd like to reduce them but I think in that particular case it was reasonable.
"The asset itself is worth hundreds of millions (of dollars)."
Australian Associated Press
