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Koch’s claims untrue, says government

Health Department deputy secretary Mark Cormack

Health Department deputy secretary Mark Cormack

Sunrise host David Koch’s white-hot fury on Wednesday morning, when he quit a government post on live TV, didn’t tell the whole story, according to the Government.

Mr Koch resigned this morning from his post as chair of the Organ and Tissue Authority advisory council after the government announced a review into organ donation’s funding.

He said he wasn’t told about the review until he saw a story about it on Channel Seven news.

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“You didn’t even ring me as chairman of your advisory council to get my view, or even tell me an inquiry was coming,” he said on Wednesday morning.

Health Department deputy secretary Mark Cormack

Health Department deputy secretary Mark Cormack

“Obviously I’ve got no choice but to resign from the position and actively counter the tripe dished out by a whole bunch of rich lobbyists who just talk and do nothing.”

But according to a senior government department official he was told on May 20.

“Deputy Secretary of the Health Department, Mark Cormack, informed Mr Koch on May 20 that a review was planned,” Les White, spokesman for Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash said.

The OTA has drawn fire over its record for increasing the rates of organ donations – from 12.1 donors per million in 2008 to 16.1 donors per million in 2014.

Mr Koch said the Authority had moved Australia from 32nd to 19th in global donor rankings.

Mr Koch has been called to respond.

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