Key Takeaways
- A report by former public service commissioner Lynelle Briggs has found that the public fears being lumped with "overpaid political hacks" due to the abuse of appointments to government boards by major parties.
- The report recommends independent and competitive recruitment practices, new legislation, and consistent rules to depoliticize decisions and promote merit, accountability, and transparency in appointments.
- The Labor government has unveiled a framework of strengthened principles designed to promote merit, accountability, and transparency in appointments, but will not take up many of the report’s recommendations.
- The new framework will apply to all appointments to commonwealth public offices, including departmental secretaries, agency heads, statutory office holders, and government board positions, and will prioritize expertise, diversity, and probity.
Introduction to the Report
The Albanese government has released a report by former public service commissioner Lynelle Briggs, which has found that the major parties have abused appointments to government boards, leading to a lack of confidence in government and a climate of public disquiet about the integrity of institutions. The report, which was commissioned by Labor after winning the 2022 election, warns that the public fears being lumped with "overpaid political hacks" who cannot do important jobs properly. Briggs found broad dissatisfaction with the processes used by government departments and ministers in making appointments to about 200 boards.
Findings of the Report
The report found that politicization and short-term decision-making have reduced confidence in government and fed into a climate of public disquiet about the integrity of institutions. Briggs warned that average people believe all direct appointments by ministers are politically motivated, and that there are currently not enough checks and balances to enable ministers to balance autonomy with accountability. The report also found that the frequent practice in recent years has been for governments to appoint "friends" to board positions, to reward loyalty or promote political priorities. Briggs said that "all too often these appointments have looked like forms of patronage and nepotism that should have no place in the modern Australian society".
Recommendations of the Report
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 depoliticize decisions. Briggs said that all board appointments should be for a standard four-year term, with individuals barred from serving on more than two paid boards at any time. Critically, she recommended that 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.
Government Response
The Labor government has unveiled a framework of strengthened principles designed to promote merit, accountability, and transparency in appointments. The new framework 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. However, the government will not take up many of the report’s recommendations, opting instead for a major overhaul of a government-wide framework for ensuring appropriate appointments.
Criticism and Controversy
The Labor government 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. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher committed to releasing the Briggs report before the end of the year, and offered private briefings to senators. Gallagher said that the new framework would give the public the highest possible confidence on integrity and transparency in public sector appointments. However, the opposition has criticized the government’s response, saying that it does not go far enough to address the issues raised in the report.
Conclusion
The report by Lynelle Briggs has highlighted the need for reform in the appointment process for government boards. The Labor government’s response, while acknowledging the need for change, has been criticized for not going far enough. The new framework, which will come into force from February, will prioritize expertise, diversity, and probity in appointments, but will not implement many of the report’s recommendations. The government’s response has been seen as a missed opportunity to address the issues raised in the report and to restore public confidence in the integrity of institutions.