Labor chiefs Guy Houston and Jo Gains pocketed payouts worth combined $565,000 when they quit State Government

Mark McGowan’s former lieutenants pocketed payouts worth a combined $565,000 when they quit government after Labor’s re-election, it’s been revealed. The biggest golden handshake — worth $316,233 — was paid to Mr McGowan’s chief of staff of nine years, Guy Houston. He was one of 28 ministerial staffers who pocketed “term of government” termination payments worth $2.1 million, in total, after the March 13 State election. The former TV journalist, who was considered the Premier’s right-hand man, decided not to return for a second term. Deputy chief of staff Jo Gains followed Mr Houston out the door after working for Mr McGowan for nine years. She received a $249,247 payout. One of Mr McGowan’s media advisers, who switched to the private sector having worked for the Premier since 2012 too, was paid $151,242. There were also payouts for former treasurer Ben Wyatt’s ex-chief of staff Roger Martin and three staffers in the office of former Cabinet minister Peter Tinley. After Labor’s landslide election win Mr McGowan’s communications director, Daniel Pastorelli, was promoted to chief of staff and former 7NEWS Perth director David Cooper is now the Premier’s top spin doctor. The figures were revealed in response to questions in Parliament from Nationals MP Martin Aldridge. Ministerial staff are employed by way of term of government contracts under section 68 of the Public Sector Management Act. They are entitled to four weeks salary in addition to two weeks salary for each year of continuous service and any accrued leave entitlements. This was consistent with the previous Liberal-National government, the Government’s leader in the Legislative Council Sue Ellery said. Five employees of the Liberals and Nationals, including ex-Liberal leader Zak Kirkup’s chief of staff Nathan Hondros, received payouts worth a combined $110,000.