A long-awaited review into Australian public sector appointments has delivered a scathing verdict, finding that the practice of awarding 'jobs for mates' on government boards has been so routine it is undermining public confidence. The report, authored by former Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs, warns that politicised appointments look like forms of patronage and nepotism.
Key Findings of the Briggs Review
Commissioned by the Albanese government after the 2022 election, the review was handed to ministers in August 2023 but only publicly released in December 2024. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who announced the review in February 2023, initially stated it would "put an end to the jobs for mates culture".
Briggs found broad public dissatisfaction, with people fearing boards are stacked with "overpaid political hacks" incapable of performing vital roles. She concluded that short-term, politically motivated decision-making has eroded trust in public institutions. The report states that all too often, appointments of political allies have been used to reward loyalty or push political agendas, with seemingly little regard for merit or consequences.
Controversial Recommendations Ignored
The review made a series of bold recommendations to depoliticise the process for appointing members to roughly 200 public boards and agencies. Key proposals included:
- Implementing independent, competitive recruitment practices with consistent rules.
- Introducing a standard four-year term for all board appointments.
- Banning individuals from serving on more than two paid government boards simultaneously.
- Imposing a six-month cooling-off period for ex-politicians and staffers before they can take a board role, extending to 18 months for former ministers and their aides.
- Halting appointments in the six months before a federal election to prevent "last minute bequests", which the report labelled "shameless" and damaging to a government's reputation.
However, the Labor government has decided against adopting many of these specific recommendations. This has drawn criticism, particularly after the government recently lost control of the Senate amid attempts by crossbenchers and the Coalition to force the report's release.
Government's New Appointment Framework
Instead of enacting the proposed bans and cooling-off periods, the government has responded with a new overarching framework for public sector appointments. Set to take effect from February 2025, the rules will apply to all Commonwealth public offices, including departmental secretaries, agency heads, and board members.
The new system promises to prioritise merit, transparency, accountability, expertise, and diversity. Appointments must demonstrate merit through written selection criteria and should reflect the breadth of the Australian community. Departments will provide advice, and recommendations from independent panels should be followed where possible.
Defending the approach, Minister Gallagher stated, "We took the time to get this right. We listened to stakeholders, and have designed a framework that will serve the Australian community for years to come." She asserted the framework would give the public the highest possible confidence in the integrity and transparency of appointments.
The government's slow response to the 18-month-old report and its rejection of core recommendations leave open questions about whether the entrenched culture of 'jobs for mates' can be truly dismantled without more stringent measures.
