The Queensland government takes too long to fill vacancies on boards, fails to properly check applicants' qualifications, and isn't publicly advertising positions, the state's auditor-general says.
Brendan Worrall has analysed board recruitment processes used by the departments of Health; Employment, Small Business and Training; Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water; and Treasury.
He found the four departments take up to two years to fill vacancies, leaving some boards with too few directors to function properly.
"There is a risk that government boards may not have the required number of directors to make decisions," Mr Worrall wrote in a report, published on Thursday.
"Leaving positions unfilled for up to two years also places additional pressure on the remaining board members and creates a risk that threats and opportunities may be missed as additional perspectives are not available."
Most candidates wait for six months for feedback on their applications, the report said, with most learning the outcome when an appointment is announced.
Mr Worrall warned the sluggishness and lack of communication could deter the best candidates.
"This increases the risk that other boards will snap up good quality candidates during the wait time," he wrote.
"Unlike NSW and Victoria, Queensland has no set time frames for various stages of appointment."
The auditor-general found of the four departments, only Queensland Health had taken the time to check academic qualifications.
The lack of oversight could allow unsuitable candidates "overstating or misrepresenting" their qualifications to be appointed.
"Departments need to check the claims of candidates," Mr Worrall wrote.
"This is an important step that must be done quickly so as not to hold up the process."
Some vacancies weren't broadly advertised, the report said, or the skills needed for the position were not identified.
Mr Worrall also found that only a third of current board directors have completed board governance courses.
"This approach relies heavily on using the networks of the department and the minister to identify preferred candidates," he wrote.
"Not advertising broadly can give the perception that having highly qualified, experienced and diverse candidates is not the only consideration when making appointments."
There has been no change to remuneration rates for board members in seven years, the report said, further narrowing the field of qualified applicants.
Mr Worrall said higher remuneration should be offered to attract the best candidates to vacant positions.
"Queensland government boards compete for members with interstate government boards and the private and not-for-profit sectors," he wrote.
"Out-of-date remuneration rates are a barrier to attracting and retaining the best quality board members."
Mr Worrell recommended the premier's department and cabinet develop a new framework to bring the board recruitment process in line with best practices.
