The Hyphen Debate

The Labor Party has sacked one hyphen for another. Andrew Cappie-Wood makes way for Michael Coutts-Trotter as Director General of Education. What experience does he have in education? Well, he went to school, and now he has a daughter in kindergarten. But does he need experience in education to be Director General? It’s debatable, currently I’m undecided. Although Cappie-Wood had a lack of experience in education and he got sacked. Apparently Coutts-Trotter is a good manager of people, money and time, which may count in his favour.

Most of the controversy surrounding his appointment has been because of a conviction and jail sentence for drug dealing that occurred about 20 years ago when he was a teenager. “Someone with a criminal record shouldn’t work in education” bleat some talkback callers. He has done a good job at turning his life around as he has forged a successful career for himself since that conviction. For this he should be commended. But that doesn’t mean he should be given one of the most important public sector jobs.

I think criticism should be the focused on the appointer, Morris Iemma, and not the appointee, Coutts-Trotter. As this appointment reeks of “jobs for the boys.” You see Mr Coutts-Trotter is married to federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek. They are not even trying to look transparent.

Another point of contention is the little fact that this job was never advertised. Who knows if he is the best man for the job, they never looked elsewhere. It’s as if the job was just handed to Coutts-Trotter no questions asked. This wouldn’t surprise me as this state govt seems to get more arrogant with each election.

Anyway, good luck to him as the eyes of every media outlet are on him and Alan Jones can be brutal.