THE chairwoman of one of the nation’s leading cancer hospitals has defended her legal work for tobacco giant Philip Morris, arguing she no longer accepts business from the company and is a committed non-smoker.
Wendy Harris SC was appointed Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre chairwoman last year by the Baillieu government, making her the effective custodian of Victoria’s major cancer treatment operator.
But it has emerged that Ms Harris helped launch her career as a lawyer by working as a solicitor for Philip Morris while on the staff of law firm Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks. Labor said Ms Harris should never have been made chairwoman of the Peter MacCallum board.
“While Ms Harris is probably qualified for the position, we have concerns about her appointment given her background,” said opposition health spokesman Gavin Jennings.
Now a prominent barrister, Ms Harris disclosed in her Bar profile she had worked on tobacco regulation and media and constitutional law from 1993-97.
Documents seen by The Australian show Ms Harris was a solicitor on her then law firm’s litigation team and a contact point in 1996 for Philip Morris, which manufactures and sells cigarettes around the world.
Ms Harris said past employment did not disqualify her from working for a cause she was deeply committed to.
“You will have observed that it is many years since I was an employee solicitor at Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks, where I was engaged — among many other matters, and with many other clients — in work for Philip Morris,” she told The Australian.
“The work I was engaged in at that time — now more than 15 years ago — was principally advertising regulation. I had no involvement in product liability work for Philip Morris.”
Peter MacCallum chief executive Craig Bennett said Ms Harris had been appointed a year ago. “Ms Harris has been a strong advocate for Peter Mac, offering informed advice and working with the utmost integrity and commitment to promote good governance,” he said.