Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Parliamentary Standards, I wish to make a statement concerning the committee's decision on the appointment of commissioners of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member may proceed.

Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise in my capacity as chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Parliamentary Standards to make a statement on the appointment of seven commissioners of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission or the IPSC. The IPSC was established last year under the Parliamentary Workplace Support Services Act 2023 to investigate alleged breaches of behaviours, codes and standards. Under section 59H of this act, our committee is charged with considering proposed recommendations for the appointment of IPSC commissioners.

Ms Rachel Hunter PSM, Mr Joseph Catanzariti AM, Mr Adair Donaldson, Ms Joanne Muller AM, Ms Barbara Bennett PSM, Ms Mary Brennan and Mr Colin Neave AM have all been acting as IPSC commissioners. After careful consideration, the committee endorsed each of the seven nominees to fill the roles on a substantive basis. On the behalf of the committee, I would like to congratulate all the new commissioners, particularly Ms Hunter as the chair commissioner, on their appointments. This is the first time IPSC commissioners have been appointed on a substantive basis. The IPSC is an important part of the framework established to ensure that Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces are safe and respectful.

I ask leave of the House to present a copy of my statement.

Leave granted.