22 August, 2024:
My question is for the Treasurer. Just last week the government appointed a former Labor premier to the board of Australia Post. She replaces someone who was a former director of the Liberal Party, appointed—unsurprisingly—by the previous coalition government. In February 2023, this government commissioned a review of public sector board appointments to respond to transparency concerns. The report of that review was given to the government in August 2023. Treasurer, 12 months on, why has the report not been released publicly, and when will it be released?
Dr CHALMERS: Thanks to the member for McKellar for her question to me in my capacity representing the Minister for Finance. Our government is all about ensuring strong governance and accountability of Public Service entities. It's a very high priority for us.
As the member knows, we undertook a review of public sector board appointments when we came to office to process, consider and propose the best standards for the way board members are appointed to public sector boards. We're very grateful to former Public Service commissioner Lynelle Briggs for her report, which is with the government for consideration. That's what the honourable member refers to in her question.
We are committed to a strong foundation of integrity right across the Public Service. We do recognise that we need to get the right diversity of skills and experience for public sector boards, to provide the right kind of oversight and direction to government entities. We also know that appointment processes for boards have to be conducted in a way that enhances trust in government bodies.
This is part of our agenda to try and clean up the way that government runs after the shambolic way, I believe, that the former government ran itself, including the former Prime Minister appointing himself to multiple cabinet positions. I'm asked about former premier Palaszczuk.
Mr Fletcher interjecting—The SPEAKER: Order! The Manager of Opposition Business will cease interjecting.
Dr Scamps: I rise on a point of order on relevance. When is it likely that the report will be released publicly?
The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is directing his remarks and being directly relevant about the question. He was just turning to the point of the question that was at the start of the question. He has the remaining one minute and 14 seconds to answer the question.
Dr CHALMERS: As I said earlier, the report is with government for consideration. When it comes to former premier Palaszczuk, I believe that that's a very good appointment to the board of Australia Post. I think it is very hard to sustain the argument that former premier Palaszczuk's eight years as premier of Queensland doesn't qualify her for that important role.
Mr Caldwell interjecting—
The SPEAKER: Order, member for Fadden.
Mr Fletcher: I thought you were going to do this all differently.
The SPEAKER: The manager will cease interjecting.
Dr CHALMERS: I know that there will always be a range of views about government appointments. Our job, our objective and our record are about appointing the best people that we can to these government positions, because we know how important it is that these government boards are guided in the best possible way.