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 Bid to remove Rod Oxley from Southern Phone Company board 

Bid to remove Rod Oxley from Southern Phone Company board

12 Dec, 2009 04:00 AM
Former Wollongong City Council general manager Rod Oxley's role as director of Southern Phone Company is being challenged by councils who are shareholders of the company.

The Southern Councils Group (SCG) represents seven councils from Wollongong to Bega, all of which are Southern Phone Company shareholders.

The SCG has written to Southern Phone expressing the concerns the councils have "in relation to the suitability of Mr Rod Oxley continuing as a board member in light of the findings of the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation into Wollongong City".

The matter was discussed in a confidential session by the SCG when it met last month.

The reason cited was that Mr Oxley was a former employee of a member council and SCG delegate.

SCG chair and Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy said the matters raised in the discussion remained confidential, "but the SCG charter enables it to raise concerns of communities in which we represent".

"Ultimately the decision rests with the directors of Southern Phone Company to make their determination," Councillor McCarthy said.

Southern Phone Company chairman Bill Hilzinger said he received notice of SCG's concerns on Thursday.

Mr Hilzinger said the matter would be taken to his board when it meets next in February.

Mr Oxley declined to comment on the matter.

Last month at the company's annual general meeting, Southern Phone shareholders voted 6-4 against increasing the annual payout to directors by $50,000 to $150,000.

Kiama councillor Monique Dare-Ward recommended against the increase, saying that as the company had suffered a $369,895 loss in 2008-09, its six directors did not deserve it.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
The headline for this story really brought a smile to my face and it got bigger as I read on, it's great that the share holders were able to knock the 33% pay increase on the head. It's a pity that ICCA didn't go for the juggler and we would be rid of Oxley for good.
Posted by MM, 12/12/2009 4:56:42 AM, on Illawarra Mercury
I am staggered but somehow not surprised, that Rod Oxley was still on this board, once he was named in the ICAC Wollongong City Council Corruption Investigation. He should have done the honourable gesture and stepped aside till an outcome was determined. He did not. He felt no shame to stay including voting for a wage rise for the board.
Posted by Alan Bond, 12/12/2009 7:29:11 AM, on Illawarra Mercury
Why does this man keep making headlines in the Mercury? Are you sure he does not have a share in the Mercury itself? Please, no more Rod Oxley! Even if he robs a bank we do not want to hear his name again.
Posted by Eric B, 12/12/2009 12:16:51 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
Why hasn't APRA intervened in this matter, they are supposedly the watchdog of corporate boards, they set the standards required to be eligible to sit on a board, let us hear from them. The board of the Southern Phone Company would not necessarily be aware of Oxleys status as it relates to the findings of the ICAC. Why do we have these watchdogs if they cannot do their job.
Posted by johne, 12/12/2009 2:26:33 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
The mentality of even considering paying directors of a company a major pay rise when the company makes a loss defies logic. A vote of 6-4 against is astounding. I would have thought a vote of 10-0 against would be more like it.
Posted by FTW, 13/12/2009 11:54:18 AM, on Illawarra Mercury

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