Linda White (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission on proposed recommendations for appointments to the commission. I seek leave to make a statement of not more than three minutes relating to the report.

Leave granted.

I rise as the chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission to speak about the committee's report on proposed appointments to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The committee was recently established to provide parliamentary oversight of the forthcoming commission.

Under the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022, one of the committee's roles is to consider the Attorney-General's proposed recommendations for the appointment of commissioner, deputy commissioner and inspector of the commission. On 10 March 2023 the Attorney-General referred to the committee proposed recommendations for the appointment of the Hon. Justice Paul Brereton AM RFD as Commissioner on a full-time basis for a period of five years, Ms Nicole Rose PSM as Deputy Commissioner on a full-time basis for a period of five years, Dr Ben Gauntlett as Deputy Commissioner on a full-time basis for a period of five years and Ms Gail Furness SC as Inspector on a part-time basis for a period of seven years. I'm pleased to report the committee has unanimously approved each of these proposed recommendations. This enables the Attorney-General to recommend each of these appointments to the Governor-General. This is indeed momentous, as these are the inaugural appointments to these positions.

Earlier today, the committee wrote to the Attorney-General to inform him of this decision and I am now tabling this report for the benefit of all senators. The committee's task, which was to approve or reject the minister's proposed recommendations for certain appointments, is uncommon among parliamentary committees. I thank committee members for approaching the task thoughtfully. The committee undertook significant due diligence to assure itself of the suitability of the candidates. This included consideration of the qualifications for an appointment that are set out in the act.

To allow committee members to properly carry out their due diligence, the committee notified the Attorney-General that it required additional time to consider his proposed recommendations. Considering the government's intention to ensure the commission commences operation by mid-2023, I'm pleased that the committee members worked promptly to conclude their deliberations without using all of the available time.

On behalf of the committee, I wish to thank the candidates for putting themselves forward to lead the commission when it is established later this year. This is indeed a momentous task, given the crucial role the commission will perform in Australia's integrity framework. I also wish to thank the Attorney-General and his department for providing information to support the committee's deliberations. The committee looks forward to the commencement of the commission later this year and to providing ongoing oversight in accordance with the act.