Glenn Lazarus (Queensland, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

While I support the bill, I am putting forward an amendment to improve the management and scrutiny of board appointments to the advisory board. As the bill stands, the health minister will have the ability to consider an appoint members to the advisory board.

As I already highlighted in my speech on the second reading, I am uncomfortable with the approach and feel the appointment of the board members needs additional scrutiny and transparency, and as a result I am putting forward an amendment to this bill to require any and all appointments to the board to be ratified by both houses of parliament.

This will ensure that the appointments are considered in a manner which is reasonable, bipartisan and transparent. I understand that my amendment may introduce a level of administration not currently included in the bill, but I feel the people of Australia deserve increased scrutiny in the management and use of taxpayer funds. This amendment will introduce an important level of accountability and scrutiny not currently present within the bill.

The board appointments are not small appointments. The appointment of board members will be for a period of up to five years. Board members will be responsible for managing the allocation of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds to the research sector, and of course these board members will also be paid. It is for this reason I feel there needs to be an additional level of scrutiny and consideration in the management of these board appointments. The community needs confidence that the best people are being appointed to this board. Currently, as the bill stands, the minister has the sole discretion around board appointments. Presenting appointments to the parliament will require the Minister for Health to detail the name of the person the minister is seeking to appoint and the field in which the person has the relevant experience or knowledge.

As the only independent senator for Queensland, I want to ensure the people of Queensland and, more broadly, Australia have the confidence that the government is making decisions in the best interest of all Australians and that it is using taxpayers' funds in the most appropriate manner. My amendment will deliver this level of accountability and confidence to the people of Australia.

I sincerely hope that the Senate will support my amendment and I commend my amendment to the Senate.

The CHAIRMAN: I take it, Senator Lazarus, that is your formal moving of amendment (1) on sheet 7745?

I move amendment (1) on sheet 7745:

(1) Clause 32G, page 32 (after line 29), at the end of the clause, add:

(5) An appointment under subsection (1) is of no affect until:

  (a) the Health Minister has caused to be laid before each House of the Parliament a statement:

     (i) recommending the appointment of the person; and

     (ii) outlining the field mentioned in subsection (2) in which the person has experience or knowledge; and

(b) both Houses of the Parliament by resolution have approved the making of the appointment.