Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I welcome the opportunity to congratulate Danielle Wood as the first female leader of the Productivity Commission when she takes up that role. I will have to come back to Senator Hume if there's anything further that I can add, but I understand there was a full merit selection process which was undertaken for that appointment, and the Treasurer would have been briefed on that. It is an exciting opportunity to have Ms Wood take up that role. It's an important institution. It's an institution that the Treasurer is keen to invest in so that we can continue to get good advice from that body, particularly with the productivity challenges that have been apparent in this economy for over a decade now and some of the work that needs to be done to make sure that we are lifting productivity and enhancing living standards.

There was a full merit process. The Treasurer would have been briefed on that. She is a fine candidate who brings a wealth of experience and expertise, including a stint at the Productivity Commission at an earlier time in her career. I look forward to working with Ms Wood, as are all members of the government, and I hope that people in the—