What the Bill does?
Drafted in partnership with the Centre for Public Integrity, the Bill will establish:
- A Public Appointments Commissioner (PAC);
- Departmental Independent Selection Panels (ISPs); and
- A Parliamentary Joint Committee on Appointments to oversee the process without a government-led majority, guaranteeing independence from the government of the day.
- A new mandatory safeguard of a six-month cooling-off period to prevent recent politicians or political staffers from being appointed to major public roles.
The PAC and ISPs would implement a transparent, merit-based recruitment process for all major Commonwealth public appointments, including positions such as the National Anti-Corruption Commissioner, the Information Commissioner, and members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
At the conclusion of each process, the PAC and relevant ISP would provide the responsible Minister with a shortlist of at least three qualified candidates, ensuring that final appointments are made from a genuinely independent and merit-based field.
For more information you can read:
- Read the full Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2026 here
- Read the Explanatory Memorandum here
- Read the press release on the Bill here
- Watch my speech here
- Listen to my interview on ABC Sydney with Craig Reucassel here
- Watch my question to the Prime Minister here
- Read the Canberra Times article about my Bill here