Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission, I present the committee's report entitled Report on proposed recommendations for appointments to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—I rise today as Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and I'm pleased today—very pleased indeed—to table this historic report, which confirms that the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission has approved the recommendations for the inaugural appointments to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. These appointments are the Hon. Justice Paul Brereton AM RFD, as commissioner; Ms Nicole Rose PSM, as deputy commissioner; Dr Ben Gauntlett, as deputy commissioner; Ms Jaala Hinchcliffe, as acting deputy commissioner; and Ms Gail Furness SC as inspector.

In approving these recommendations for appointment, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission has fulfilled one of its important statutory roles. Under section 178(3)(b) of the act, the committee must approve or reject a recommendation from the Attorney-General for appointments to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Once the decision has been reached, the committee must report that decision to both houses of the parliament. I'm pleased to report that the committee unanimously approved these recommendations. To me, it's important to have achieved a consensus decision.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission needs support from across the political spectrum, and I hope that our unanimous decision today will set the culture of the committee for years to come—a culture of working together from all sides of the political spectrum. Having said that, this committee is not and will not be a rubber stamp, and we have set that standard today. These appointments represent a very important step towards the much-anticipated commencement of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

When Australians from every corner of our nation called for integrity in politics, they called for a robust, independent and enduring institution that they can trust—an institution that takes its place as a pillar of our democratic and accountable system of government. These appointments are a crucial step to ensure we deliver that vision for the Australian people. In fulfilling that vision, I hope that this sets in train an improvement in the trust that the people of Australia have in their government and in public institutions.

To deliver a powerful anticorruption commission, we must have the right people in the job—people who are experienced, courageous and completely independent of government, political parties and political interests. In fulfilling its responsibilities to approve these recommendations for appointment, the parliamentary joint committee carefully contemplated each proposed appointment on their merit. We scrutinised past experience and qualifications. We looked closely at the skills these people would bring to these important roles. With these appointments, I am confident that the National Anti-Corruption Commission will be strong and independent. I thank the appointees for putting their names forward to take on this momentous task.

I wish to acknowledge my fellow committee members for the time, the effort and the diligence they've given to fulfilling their role on the committee and for approaching our task thoughtfully and cooperatively. I look forward to continuing to work together to provide oversight of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. I would especially like to thank the chair, Senator Linda White, for her leadership in bringing the committee together on this important decision. I commend this report to the House, and, in the spirit of genuine collaboration and cooperation, I would like to cede some time to the member for Menzies.

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