WA health boss quits in row with govt

Western Australia's health department chief, one of Australia's highest paid public
servants, has quit his job after a falling out with the state government over budget
cuts.
Peter Flett, who was just over one year into his five-year contract on a salary of
$540,000, said events over the past two weeks had made his position "untenable".
He did not specify reasons for his resignation but it follows a public stoush with
WA Treasurer Troy Buswell over budget cuts.
Mr Buswell criticised him on Thursday for claiming that the Health Department was
expecting to run $200 million over budget this financial year.
Mr Buswell said Dr Flett's comments had been "premature and unhelpful".
On Friday, Dr Flett would only say that balancing the department's budget had
presented "an enormous challenge".
"Over the past two years we have worked hard to put in place the financial rigour
needed to make sure we can work within future health budgets," Dr Flett said.
"Unfortunately I won't be here to see these through."
Dr Flett, a pathology expert with more than 30 years experience in medicine, was
appointed to head the Health Department in October last year after a brief term
standing in for his predecessor, Neale Fong.
Dr Fong, whose $600,000 salary made him Australia's highest-paid public servant at
the time, resigned after the state's corruption watchdog found that his dealings
with former premier and lobbyist Brian Burke constituted serious misconduct.