Article: Anna Bligh's new aide Nicole Scurrah a quiet achiever

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail click here!

Anna Bligh's new aide Nicole Scurrah a quiet achiever

Anna Bligh's new aide Nicole Scurrah a quiet achiever
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

By Darrell Giles

November 22, 2009 12:00am

PREMIER Anna Bligh's new chief-of-staff Nicole Scurrah says she wants to stay out of the limelight and be the faceless power behind the throne.

Ms Scurrah, 39, has no desire to follow the lead of the man she is replacing, controversial and high-profile Labor figure Mike Kaiser.

"I will be more than happy working to the best of my ability behind the scenes," the mother-of-two told The Sunday Mail yesterday, in her first media interview.

Mr Kaiser, 46, quit as Ms Bligh's chief-of-staff last Friday, and will join the Federal Government's National Broadband Network on December 1 as the head of government relations and external affairs on a salary of $450,000 per year.

Mr Kaiser, who also served as chief-of-staff to former NSW premier Morris Iemma, has rarely been out of the news during 23 years in politics, including a brief period as state MP for Woodridge.

In contrast, Ms Scurrah has been a quiet achiever, working as a senior economics adviser in Ms Bligh's office after she became deputy premier in 2005, and more recently as one of two deputy chiefs-of-staff.

"I am very excited to have this opportunity . . . it is not an easy job, but it is a fantastic challenge," said Ms Scurrah, who has a 20-year-old daughter working as a snowboard instructor in Canada and a nine-year-old daughter at school.

"Working long hours makes it difficult. I have maybe an hour at night with my daughter," she said.

"On weekends, I try to take her out, just her and I, we spend time at the park, do everyday normal things. The Premier is a working mother, there are other working mums here . . . it is a challenge for everyone."

She was a key member of Labor's election strategy team which saw Ms Bligh elected in March as Australia's first female premier, and was confident Ms Bligh could turn around a record-low popularity.

"I believe we have got the best leader and a very strong Cabinet, and they will deliver a positive result. Anyone who does not believe that should not be there," Ms Scurrah said, revealing a glimpse of her well-known "tough as nails" approach.

Ms Scurrah's husband Paul is head of Queensland Rail passenger services.

[Fares_Fair]

... and to think I was concerned about nepotism !!
Anna sure looks after her friends, just ask Mike Kaiser.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Just noted this --> http://www.qbr.com.au/news/articleid/61033.aspx

Australian Institute of Management Awards "This year?s winners include Paul Scurrah (pictured) from Queensland Rail Passenger (Professional Manager of the Year)".

Well done Mr Scurrah!

[Jon Bryant]

To be fare you should be able to select your Chief of Staff from anywhere you like and how you like.  You wear the consequences of a good or bad decision.

[somebody]

To be fare you should be able to select your Chief of Staff from anywhere you like and how you like.  You wear the consequences of a good or bad decision.

Well, Ms Bligh does have a track record of nepotism though with the job and then promotion given to her husband.

[Fares_Fair]

track record ... was that a pun ?   

she has truly made nepotism into an art form.

My theory is she handed the job to Mike Kaiser (in the National Broadband Network) with help from the Federal Labor Government (and that is on the record), with an incredibly generous salary so she could place Mrs Scurrah into the position as her advisor.

It is indeed her right to appoint her personal advisors as she sees fit.

It is NOT however in her purvey to arrange such over-salaried positions to persons who rorted the electoral system, and who have no experience in the telecommunications field.
It is indeed appalling behaviour by a Premier out of touch with reality.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

track record ... was that a pun ?   

Unintentional.

[Fares_Fair]

track record ... was that a pun ?  

Unintentional.

but very appropriate somebody, well done ! 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Jon Bryant]

I did say her own Chief of Staff. The NBM job is another issue and I agree with you

It is NOT however in her purvey to arrange such over-salaried positions to persons who rorted the electoral system, and who have no experience in the telecommunications field.
It is indeed appalling behaviour by a Premier out of touch with reality.