Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Bill 2022. For those not familiar with the provisions of the bill, it seeks to establish a merits based process for the selection of commissioners and senior executives of the Australian Human Rights Commission, consistent with the United Nations General Assembly principles. This is an element that has been lacking in the past and has led to concerns raised by Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions subcommittee and a deferral of the reaccreditation as an A-status national human rights institution—so clearly something that is urgent and necessary to remedy.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is one of many public bodies that have been the subject of politicisation in their appointments. Anyone in New South Wales could not fail to know the discussion that is occurring at the moment around that issue of politicisation of appointments. It really does need to stop because the Australian public need to have confidence in appointments to such important bodies, to ensure that it is merit based, that it is the right people doing these jobs. We need to have confidence in the process. In fact, the new member for Goldstein would be aware that concerns were repeatedly raised in relation to the former member for Goldstein around his appointment of the current commissioner, given their links to parties appointing them. There cannot be politicisation around these appointments. It really is incredibly important.

Of course, this is not the only body where it has occurred. A report was released by the Grattan Institute recently. Its published report showed that political appointees occupied 21 per cent of federal government board positions that are well paid, powerful, prestigious and influential. More than one in five federal government business boards have a political connection. In contrast, just two per cent of ASX 100 company board members who exercise similar responsibilities have a political connection.

In the lead-up to the last election we saw great criticism of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal appointments. This is one body amongst so many others. Locally in Warringah we have the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, which has great responsibility for the management and conservation of iconic sites around our harbour, particularly 10 Terminal and the North Head ex-military sites. It's so important that we have boards and organisations that are equipped with skilled people to actually do the job that needs to be done.

We need to put an end to the jobs for mates, the cronyism. There should be transparent, merit based selection processes for all public appointments. This bill is a good start. I commend the government for their swift action in addressing the issue here, but we need to extend these provisions across the board to all public appointments. I support the call for a new public appointments commissioner, who could be appointed to oversee the transition process and maintain a watchful eye on developments in this space overall. We need to restore trust in the public for the appointments that come from this place and for appointments in institutions that underpin our way of life and support management and decision-making on the ground.

The Australian Human Rights Commission conducts such important work. It really is essential that those appointed to the commission are of the highest calibre. In that sense I'd like to commend Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins for the incredible work she has done over the last few years in relation to the Respect@Work report and the Set the standard review in relation to this workplace. It's clear that commissioners play a really important role.

I need to take note of an amendment proposed by the member for Brisbane because it is clear that in Warringah during the election we had very inflammatory debates about members of our community and their opportunity for inclusion. I have to say that it did raise concerns for me. There was a lack of information in the public domain about the real status of the law when it came to transgender rights and issues within the LGBTQI community. I am concerned that issues that are specific to members of the LGBTQI community do at times get overlooked or submerged into the greater responsibilities of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, so I do think there is merit in there being a more specific mandate for addressing those issues.

I certainly know in the case of the federal election campaign in Warringah there was a huge amount of misinformation when it came to transgender women's participation in sport. I really felt that there was a lack of leadership coming from the Human Rights Commission to really establish clearly the true facts and where the law actually sits. I do believe for many groups in our society it is important there is a human rights commissioner taking care of the specific issues that are addressed. I commend the member for Brisbane for his proposed amendment and I commend the government for this bill, which is the first step in the right direction.

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