The issue
The Morrison government has used appointments to public boards and other agencies as a reward for its political cronies. In putting mateship ahead of merit, it has sold out public trust and has sapped the morale and capability of public institutions.
The government has become more and more brazen about this form of corruption in the certain knowledge that it can keep getting away with it. Crikey contends there is another consequence: the practice of appointing mates to public boards sets up a system of rewards and punishments which acts to silence internal dissent within a government and works against a plurality of views.
What chance of Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells being parachuted into a high-paid post-politics sinecure after her recent public excoriation of Scott Morrison?
What the others say
Roles at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), established as a mechanism for citizens to appeal the merits of public service decisions, are routinely used by the Coalition government as a reward for Liberal Party cronies.
A Grattan Institute study showed that those appointed to the AAT with a political affiliation increased from less than 8% in 2014-15 to 32% in 2018-19, when former attorney-general Christian Porter maintained all appointments were made on merit.
Separate work by Grattan based on freedom of information research showed that Porter had made a series of ministerial picks that ran 55% in favour of those with a direct political affiliation with the Coalition. Salaries range from $193,000 to $496,000 and appointments are generally for between five and seven years.
On AAT appointments, Labor spokesman on legal matters Mark Dreyfus told Crikey Labor will “ensure” appointments are “transparent and based on merit, not Liberal Party membership”.
AAT is far from the only agency
At last count there were some 80 Coalition-linked appointees to the AAT. Political appointments to other agencies include:
Fair Work Commission
- Sophie Mirabella, former Liberal member for Indi, appointed to a $387,960 a year post, due to expire in 2033
- Alana Matheson, former Liberal deputy mayor of Campbelltown and daughter of two-term Liberal MP Russell Matheson, was appointed to a $387,960 a year post until 2047.
Australian Rail Track Corporation
- Former deputy prime minister Warren Truss is on a part-time salary of $166,290.
Small business ombudsman
- Former Liberal minister Bruce Billson has been appointed on a $360,250 salary.
Administrator of Norfolk Island
- Former backbencher Eric Hutchinson reappointed with a $304,830 salary.
Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories, covering Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Former Northern Territory MP Natasha Griggs appointed.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Former MP Louise Markus appointed as chair, a part-time position paying $84,000 a year.
Australian Financial Complaints Authority
- Former senator Helen Coonan appointed non-executive chair.
SBS board
- Warren Mundine, failed Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Gilmore, appointed.
Australia Post
- Former MP Michael Ronaldson appointed to the board on a six-year term.
- Former president of the Queensland Liberal National Party Bruce McIver on a six-year term
- Deidre Willmott, former chief of staff to West Australian Liberal premiers Richard Court and Colin Barnett, on a six-year term.
Multiple roles for some
Former senator Helen Kroger, a lifelong Liberal Party member, was made a part-time member of the AAT in 2017. She was also appointed as chair of commissioners for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, a part-time role with an annual salary of $77,000 a year.
Former Liberal Party federal director Tony Nutt has multiple appointments: director of Australia Post (minimum of $96,890 a year); member of the National Museum of Australia Council ($22,180); contractor to the Australian Public Service Commission (a $45,000, eight-month contract).
