Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Keneally for the question. Senator Keneally, what I can confirm is this: all appointments made by the Morrison government—in fact, all appointments made by the coalition government since we were elected in 2013—have been based on merit, so I completely, totally and utterly reject the accusations that you are making. Whether it is a Federal Court appointment, whether it is a Fair Work Commission appointment, whether it is an AAT appointment or any other appointment, we carefully and methodically look through candidates to ensure that the most suitable candidate is actually appointed to the role.

Colleagues, you see, this is where the Labor Party want to have their cake and eat it as well. What I am now saying is this: at times we have appointed those from a different political persuasion because our government believed, clearly unlike Labor, that they were the best people for the role. For example, let's hear the comments they have on Anna Burke, the former Labor member and Speaker, who was appointed to the AAT in 2017. Was she not the best person the role? What about Linda Kirk, former Labor senator for South Australia—AAT, 2017? Or John Black, former Labor senator for Queensland—AAT, 2017? Or David Cox, former Labor member for Kingston, appointed to the AAT in 2019? All because we just don't appoint like you opposite do. John Rau, Amanda Mendes Da Costa—I bet you used to work with this next gentleman—Philip Dalidakis, Gary Gray. On any analysis, Gary Gray was an outstanding representative, and that is why we appointed him as the ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See. We thought he was the best person for the role.