Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Hansard source

Senators will recall that on 13 February this year the Speaker and I announced that Mr Phil Bowen, the inaugural Parliamentary Budget Officer, will be retiring from the position when his term ends on 22 July this year. After advising the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, we commenced the search for a new Parliamentary Budget Officer. We looked for a person with strong public policy experience and close familiarity with the Commonwealth's budget framework and fiscal policy issues. We also thought it important that the successful candidate had the capacity to operate in an independent and non-partisan manner with a high level of confidentiality, integrity and accountability to the Australian parliament. On 29 May we advised the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit of the outcome of the competitive selection process, and in accordance with the requirements of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 sought the approval of the committee for our proposed appointment. The committee gave its approval on 15 June last.

It is my pleasure to now inform the Senate that the next Parliamentary Budget Officer will be Jenny Wilkinson. Ms Wilkinson is currently the division head, Retirement Income Policy Division in the Treasury. Ms Wilkinson's term will begin on Monday, 24 July 2017. The Speaker and I look forward to working with Ms Wilkinson, and I am sure that all senators will join me in wishing her every success in her new role.

At this point I would also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank Mr Phil Bowen for his service as Parliamentary Budget Officer. Mr Bowen has had a long and distinguished Public Service career, for which he was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal in 2006. In establishing and leading the Parliamentary Budget Office for five years, Mr Bowen has done an outstanding job undertaking his duties at all times with complete impartiality. The PBO's rigorous independent modelling and analysis has been of great assistance to members of both houses of the parliament and has improved the budget process.

I gratefully acknowledge his having remained in the role for longer than he originally intended, upon the request of the Speaker and I, continuing to provide a great service to senators and members, particularly during the costing of policy proposals in the lead-up to the last election.

I wish Phil and his family well for his retirement.

In accordance with the requirements of the act, I now ask the Chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, Senator Smith, to make a statement on behalf of the committee on the appointment.