Owen Whittle: West Australian Music Industry Association boss appointed to Salaries and Allowances Tribunal

Former union official and West Australian Music Industry Association head Owen Whittle has been appointed to the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal. Mr Whittle is currently the chief executive officer of WAM and chair of the Work Health and Safety Commission. He also previously held roles at WorkCover WA, UnionsWA and was the chair of the Welfare Rights and Advocacy Service. Mr Whittle will sit on the tribunal for a term of three years, alongside tribunal chair Margaret Seares and member Michael Schaper. The tribunal rules on the pay of elected officials and top brass on both the State and local government levels as well as for the Governor, judges and members of public university governing councils. The move comes a month after former MP John Day was ruled to be ineligible to sit on the tribunal because of his past role as an elected official. Roger Cook said Mr Whittle brought a “wealth of experience” to the tribunal. “Mr Whittle will support the tribunal to continue to set executive position salaries that allow Western Australia to attract the best and brightest people to these important roles while being considerate of community expectations,” he said.