Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General. The recent resignations of both the commissioner and the deputy commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission present an opportunity to rebuild public confidence in the institution but only if the new appointments are made independently and transparently. In line with best practice, will the positions be advertised for at least two weeks, will selection criteria be made public, and will the appointments be made by an independent selection panel? If not, can you please explain why?

Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question, which goes to the importance of the National Anti-Corruption Commission to Australia's integrity landscape, as delivered by the Albanese government following our election in 2022. I am pleased to confirm to the House that the government established a merit based selection process for all appointments to the NACC, which has been followed to date and which will be followed in future. The appointment process will be consistent with the Australian Government Appointments Framework and the NACC Act. Candidates for appointment are assessed by a selection panel following public advertisements. Only candidates assessed as suitable by the panel are presented to me as Attorney-General for appointment. Candidates are then referred for consideration to the cross-party Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission, comprising members and senators from across the parliament, including the honourable member for Indi, who serves as its deputy chair. I also thank the member for Indi for her work on this very important committee. The committee's decision is then reported to the parliament.

I note that all appointments made to the commission to date have been unanimously approved by the parliamentary joint committee. The merit based process for NACC appointments reflects the Albanese government's commitment to integrity and accountability in government, and I thank the honourable member for her positive engagement in this regard.