Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Science and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to indicate that Labor will be supporting this amendment. As Senator Murray has said, this is an argument that we continue to have. It is a bit like the other elephant—bite by bite and bit by bit. Across the world the consideration of good governance includes the issue of merit selection of appointments for the kinds of positions that are incorporated in this amendment. That point was made most recently, and the concern about the lack of robustness in our processes was raised by Professor Meredith Edwards of the National Institute for Governance. Labor certainly believes that this is an important principle. We should have selection on merit. As Senator Murray said, we know this will not be agreed to by the government because they continue to appoint their mates.