Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move amendments (1) to (4) on sheet 2439 together:

(1) Schedule 2, item 10, page 9 (after line 15), at the end of subsection 12(4), add:

Note: The appointment process in section 12A also needs to be complied with.

(2) Schedule 2, item 10, page 9 (after line 15), after section 12, insert:

12A Appointment process

(1) This section applies to the following appointments:

(a) the appointment of a person to be a Board member under section 12;

(b) the appointment of a person to act as a Board member under section 14 if:

(i) the appointment is to act in the office for a period of 6 months or more; or

(ii) the appointment is to act in the office for a period of less than 6 months but, in combination with previous appointments, the person will have been appointed to act in the office for a total period of 6 consecutive months or more.

(2) An appointment must not be made unless:

(a) the selection of the person for the appointment is the result of a process that includes:

(i) public advertising of selection criteria for the position; and

(ii) assessment of applications against the selection criteria by an independent panel consisting of at least 3 members; and

(iii) shortlisting of at least 3 persons for the appointment who are certified, in writing, by the panel to meet all of the selection criteria; and

(b) the person appointed is one of the shortlisted candidates.

(3) Within 7 days after an appointment is made, the Minister must cause a copy of the written certification (referred to in subparagraph (2)(a)(iii)) for the person appointed to be:

(a) tabled in each House of the Parliament; or

(b) if a House is not sitting—presented or tabled at the earliest opportunity in accordance with the practices of that House.

(3) Schedule 2, item 10, page 10 (before line 25), before the note, insert:

Note 1: For the appointment of an acting Board member, the appointment process in section 12A also needs to be complied with.

(4) Schedule 2, item 10, page 10 (line 25), omit "Note", substitute "Note 2".

The review and a number of submissions called for this act to include provisions for appointments to the board that minimise the possibility of appointments on the basis of political favour. Ministerial appointments open the ARC board up to more 'jobs for mates' being appointed by government. While we appreciate that the establishment of the ARC board is a significant step to improving the independence of ARC decisions, a number of experts and submissions proposed strengthening these provisions.

An ideal model involves a democratic process where board members are elected by the academic community in a process which is totally independent of government, such as the model used in New Zealand. These amendments, which involve an independent panel reviewing applications and shortlisting applicants to be chosen by the minister, maintain ministerial oversight while creating a significant improvement towards integrity and independence.