Prime Minister Tony Abbott has appointed Sophie Mirabella to the board of the government-owned naval shipbuilding firm ASC Pty Ltd.
Mrs Mirabella, the Coalition’s spokeswoman for industry in opposition, lost her seat of Indi at the federal election and is one of three new appointments to the board.
ASC Pty Ltd, formerly the Australian Submarine Corporation, is the government-owned company overseeing a number of major defence projects including the Air Warfare Destroyer and Collins Class submarine.
Mrs Mirabella’s appointment comes as the government announced a review into the troubled $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyer program, of which ASC is a partner, along with the Defence Materiel Organisation and defence firm Raytheon Australia.
Announcing the appointment, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told reporters that Mrs Mirabella’s legal background and ”extensive experience working with the manufacturing industry” meant she will make a valuable contribution to the board.
Meanwhile shadow treasurer Chris Bowen took a swipe both at the appointment and the timing of its announcement. In a tweet Mr Bowen said: ”As we win the ashes & at 5.00 on MYEFO day Govt announces they will appoint S Mirabella to a job. Obviously an appointment they are proud of.”
Mr Bowen, speaking later to the ABC, claimed that Mrs Mirabella was not adequately qualified for the role.
”What does she understand about the Australian Submarine Corporation which other eminently qualified people from industry couldn’t have contributed?” said the former Labor minister.
Mr Bowen defended Labor’s own record on appointees saying that when in power it had made appointments ”right across the board” to senior positions, including former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson to a diplomatic posting.
