Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

With respect, the minister tests our patience here. He is not seriously suggesting that we accept that cabinet knows best, that the minister would never appoint anybody a member of anything not based on merit and probity.  The point of our amendment is that it should not just be up to the executive of government to make these decisions. They should be open and accountable. Otherwise we get jobs for the boys, as you well know, Senator Carr. We get appointments that are improper because somewhere, somehow, someone has owed a person a position. It might be a retiring member of parliament from the Labor Party or it could even be from the other side of the chamber—who knows? If the appointments are going to be based on merit, if they are going to be based on proper probity and if this is all not a problem, then I cannot see how our amendment undermines the capacity to deal with the skills shortage.

Frankly, if it is going to happen anyway, why not have it in legislation? Why not make sure that everybody knows and understands that this is an appointment based on merit. You have not made the case, Minister, for opposing this amendment. I accept that that is what you are going to do—and I will not go on all afternoon about it—but you really have not been able to put the case for the government, except to say, ‘Trust us. Trust the cabinet. Trust the Prime Minister. Trust us all to get it right.’ We have not been able to trust the previous government; I do not think we can trust your government either just because you say so. I again urge you to rethink this matter and to support our amendment, when you have failed totally, I have to say, to explain what is wrong with it.