Re: "Retired clerk's deal 'good value,' " Sept. 2.
It is my understanding that legislature clerk Craig James has worked with the government for many years. During that time, we have paid him to acquire such a skill set and knowledge base that we also pay him to travel to conferences all over the world to share his knowledge, to acquire new knowledge and to network with other experts.
It is beyond logic that we should also pay his predecessor half a million dollars to be available to assist the current clerk with the job he's paid handsomely to do. I suggest that, if, in the unlikely event that James is unable to research answers to questions that arise in the course of his duties, he should now, as a result of his conference travel, have a network of experts to phone at no charge to us, the taxpayers. It is most unfortunate that this office, so important to our parliament, should be besmirched with tales of waste and mismanagement.
Cathy Shaw
Victoria
