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Head of the NT intervention, Major General Dave Chalmers (pictured in East Timor). 8 million spent on 'business managers' as part of NT intervention Monday, 21 July 2008 2:52:52 PM CANBERRA July 14, 2008: An independent review of the NT emergency intervention into Aboriginal communities has revealed the federal government has spent $8 million dollars to employ 51 government business managers. Servicing 72 communities across the Top End, the managers were progressively put in place over the past year to oversee the spending of intervention funds in 'prescribed' communities. The independent review (the Blunn report) recently commissioned by the Department of Family and Community Services found a desperate need for the roles and priorities of business managers to be clarified and re-assessed. Transparent performance appraisals and a review of the level of resourcing to government business managers was also a key recommendation of the report. According to a recent ABC online report, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin has accepted those recommendations. NOTE TO READERS: This story was corrected on July 21. The original article incorrectly stated that the full $8 million identified by the Blunn report was spent on the salaries of government business managers, at an approximate average of $156,900. In fact GBMs are paid a maximum of around $144,000 p.a. (including allowances) for their work. A government spokesperson advised some of the $8 million had been spent on relocation and accommodation costs, in addition to other expenses. The spokesperson also advised that the role of GBM's included being a link between government and communities. Printer Friendly Version  Email Story to a Friend Submit Letter to Editor