B.C. auditor general John Doyle is reportedly in line for a job in Australia — even as he considers an extension to his term in this province.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. has reported that Doyle is understood to be the “lead candidate” to fill the job of auditor general in the southeast Australian state of Victoria.
The Australian-born Doyle, who did not return a request for comment on Wednesday, served as deputy auditor general of Western Australia before taking the B.C. position in 2007.
The outgoing auditor general of Victoria, Des Pearson, was Doyle’s boss in Western Australia.
Doyle’s tenure in B.C. is set to come to an end this year.
He applied for a second six-year term, but a Liberal-dominated legislative committee failed to unanimously endorse him during a secret vote.
Critics have slammed the Liberals for attempting to oust Doyle, who has been a tough financial watchdog and battled government repeatedly for understating its budget deficit figures.
Premier Christy Clark intervened this month and suggested Doyle receive a two-year extension.
But Doyle has yet to indicate if he will accept.
Instead, he publicly blasted the legislative committee last week for its “Mickey Mouse” operation.
He also suggested committee members didn’t know how to do their jobs, and that the chairman, Liberal MLA Eric Foster, was in a conflict of interest and should have recused himself.
Doyle has said he plans to wait until the B.C. legislature votes on the contract offer in February or March before responding.
He has also said he would prefer his future to be decided by MLAs after the May provincial election.
It’s unclear how Doyle’s timing on the B.C. position relates to his Australian offer.
The broadcast report said an announcement on the Australia job was expected in coming weeks.
ABC Australia video on John Doyle:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-20/potentional-auditor-general-at-the-centre-of-a/4473054
