The major parties have abused appointments to government boards so routinely that the public fears being lumped with “overpaid political hacks” who cannot do important jobs properly, a scathing report to the Albanese government has found.
But Labor is set to eschew a series of recommendations from former public service commissioner Lynelle Briggs’ long-anticipated jobs for mates review – finally set to be released on Tuesday, 18 months after it was completed.
Instead the government unveiled a framework of strengthened principles designed to promote merit, accountability and transparency in appointments. Labor said it will prioritise expertise, diversity and probity in the new system.
Commissioned by Labor after winning the 2022 election, Briggs found broad dissatisfaction with the processes used by government departments and ministers in making appointments to about 200 boards, warning of concern about the state of institutions, publicly-owned businesses and agencies. The review’s terms of reference stopped Briggs from considering “current appointments or appointment processes related to specific individuals.”
When Katy Gallagher announced the review in February 2023 she said it would “be about putting an end to the jobs for mates culture”.
Handed to Labor in August 2023, the report says politicisation and short-term decision making has reduced confidence in government and fed into a climate of public disquiet about the integrity of institutions.
Briggs warned average people believe all direct appointments by ministers are politically motivated, stating that there are currently not enough checks and balances to enable ministers to balance autonomy with accountability.
The report found frequent practice in recent years has been for governments to appoint “friends” to board positions, to reward loyalty or promote political priorities. She said “all too often these appointments have looked like forms of patronage and nepotism that should have no place in the modern Australian society”.
The report recommends independent and competitive recruitment practices be put in place, with new legislation and consistent rules. It calls for wider pools of potential candidates with expertise, with thorough reviews for merit and public service-style practices to depoliticise decisions.
Briggs said all board appointments should be for a standard 4-year term, with individuals barred from serving on more than two paid boards at any time.
Critically she recommended ex-politicians and staffers be barred from government board appointments for six months after leaving government, extending to 18 months for former ministers and their staff.
Appointments should not be allowed for six months before the last possible date for a federal election, unless a strict process has been followed, stopping “last minute bequests”.
Briggs said these appointments often see staffers, former politicians, their supporters and friends appointed immediately before elections, “with seemingly little regard for the consequences”.
“Such bequests in the dying days of a government are shameless; are widely frowned upon by the public; and bring governments into disrepute,” the report said.
But Labor won’t take up many of the recommendations, instead opting for a major overhaul of a government-wide framework for ensuring appropriate appointments.
Due to come into force from February, the new rules will apply to all appointments to commonwealth public offices, including departmental secretaries, agency heads, statutory office holders and government board positions.
Appointments must demonstrate merit, transparency and accountability under the changes, including through written selection criteria.
Individuals chosen should reflect the breadth of the Australian community, and be based on department advice, follow independent panels recommendations as much as possible.
Labor has faced criticism for its slow response to the Briggs report, escalating last month to the point where the government lost control of the Senate and fought with crossbenchers and Coalition members trying to access the document.
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, committed to releasing the Briggs report before the end of the year, and offered private briefings to senators.
Gallagher said the new framework would give the public the highest possible confidence on integrity and transparency in public sector appointments.
“We took the time to get this right,” she said. “We listened to stakeholders, and have designed a framework that will serve the Australian community for years to come.
“We want to make the best appointments in the national interest with an emphasis on merit, diversity, accountability and this new framework delivers this.”