Former Liberal ministers are among the biggest winners in a flurry of government appointments on the eve of a federal election likely being announced.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to call a federal election later this week, after which point the government will go into caretaker mode.
In recent days, the government has appointed judges, board members and new heads of organisations.
Among those getting a job is the former NSW Liberal minister Don Harwin, who quit state politics last month, to a three-year term on the Australia Council Board.
Mr Harwin was fined $1,000 and stood down as a minister after he visited his holiday house during a COVID-19 lockdown.
Tina Arena was also reappointed to another term on the arts and culture board.
In a move similar to the last election, the government has appointed a swathe of people to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
The AAT reviews decisions made by government ministers and departments under Commonwealth laws, including citizenship, child support and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has appointed Michael Mischin, a former WA Liberal state state politician, to be the deputy president of the AAT, a role that can be paid almost $500,000 a year.
Former NSW Liberal minister Pru Goward and Anne Duffield, a former chief of staff to Mr Morrison, will both become senior members, a role that earns almost $400,000 a year.
Senator Cash on Monday appointed five people to the Federal Circuit and Family Court.
Four of those appointments were women, which take the court to majority female judges.
Among the appointments is Natasha Laing, who graduated university in 2009 and became a barrister in 2017.
Last week, Senator Cash appointed four people to that court.
On Friday, Senator Cash appointed Elizabeth Raper SC to the Federal Court. She also appointed Justice Fiona Meagher to become a Federal Court judge and the president of the AAT.
Former state and federal cabinet minister John McVeigh has also been tapped to conduct a major study of water infrastructure.
Water Minister Keith Pitt appointed Dr McVeigh to that role and also appointed an oil and gas lobbyist to head the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
The government last week appointed former Victorian Liberal premier Denis Napthine to head the National Disability Insurance Agency board.
The government has also appointed people to the Reserve Bank Board, the SBS board and ambassadorships in recent weeks.
The government brought forward the announcement of the next governor-general ahead of the last election. At the time, it informed but did not consult with Labor.
Speaking in the Coalition party room meeting last week he foreshadowed the winner of the looming election would have important decisions to make, with openings at the Fair Work Commission, Federal Court and the governor of the Reserve Bank.
The next government will also fill upcoming retirements on the High Court.
