Dismay at MG pay claims

MURRAY Goulburn suppliers want the co-operative to open up about its
salary payments to the managing director's wife.

Farmers' reactions varied from disbelief to anger when the remuneration
of the managing director Stephen O'Rourke's wife, Michelle, was revealed
in the media last week.

Anger as MG pays O'Rourke's wife


MG faces trust issues


Opinion: Rule's View

Mrs O'Rourke primarily provided a "support" role for her husband and received
remuneration worth $331,918 last financial year and $438,203 the previous year.

The fact this amount of money was considered an "oversight" by the Murray
Goulburn board has stunned supplier-shareholders.

Leongatha North dairy farmer Leo Argento was "very annoyed" at the news.

"It's totally ridiculous that Murray Goulburn employs the wife of the managing
director on the basis that the last managing director had his wife on the books,"
he said.

"I have no objection with her working, but I greatly object to the amount paid,
the figure is totally outrageous.

"It's total disregard for the very people who contributed to the growth of MG
and for the board."

Murray Goulburn chairman Grant Davies this week said the wife of former
chief executive Alf Leyson was also employed by Murray Goulburn while
he was in office.

Paul Bourke, a Murray Goulburn supplier from Maffra, said it wasn't something
farmers expected from their cooperative.

Cohuna supplier Neville Goulding agreed.

"It seems a lot for a support role, but again I would question her job
description and the hours she works, knowing that Steve does an extremely
good job," he said

WCV's: Im not surprised by this story at all. Murray Goulburn has not
been supportive to their shareholders or employees for years and it's
about time their business ethics were scrutinised.

I have dealt with them personally and I have found that they will lie and
decieve at any cost and this just shows that they are still lining their own
pockets and not taking into consideration their very important share holders.

Its also interesting to note that Murray Goulburn can pay Michelle O'Rourke
hundreds of thousands over the past years, and they cannot and will not
support their injured workers?

Instead of supplying Return To Work's they have sacked injured employees
and not cared about the condition they have left their workers in !

This shows exactly what kind of employer Murray Goulburn is !