Search for new WA health boss costs nearly $200,000

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The Western Australian Government has spent nearly $200,000 in its two-year search for a permanent director-general of the Health Department.

The Government has been struggling to attract a suitable candidate to permanently fill the job, which includes a $600,000 remuneration package, since the resignation of former boss Kim Snowball in late 2012.

But as the ABC revealed earlier this week, Cabinet had signed off on the appointment of current Fiona Stanley Hospital boss David Russell-Weisz as the department’s new director-general.

Mr Russell-Weisz is expected to start in the new role in July.

In State Parliament yesterday, the Government confirmed the 27-month search for a new director-general had cost $196,000.

That total included both recruitment and advertising costs.

The Government said the remuneration package that would be offered to the new director-general was yet to be finalised.

Professor Bryant Stokes, who has been acting in the position since April 2013, is on a $600,000 remuneration package, which includes a $528,000 salary.