Page 2370 - Week 07 - Thursday, 17 August 2006
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This was a surprise to my office, as last year both government and opposition agreed to my motion that called on the ACT government to commit to a transparent, merit-based selection process in appointing and in principle re-appointing all commissioners and statutory office holders.
In response to the motion Ms Gallagher stated the following:
This government is committed to a process of selecting people for statutory positions that delivers the best outcome for the community.
Mr Stefaniak stated as follows:
There is an expectation in the community of a transparent and merit-based selection process—that people are simply not getting jobs for the boys or girls—and a rigour that has applied traditionally, certainly in my experience. It is generally accepted in Australia that with public service jobs there is and always has been a certain amount of rigour and transparency. People certainly expect that in any area of government, and I think it is crucially important.
In the government’s closing speech on the Electoral Amendment Bill 2006 I ask that it reaffirm its commitment to a transparent merit-based selection process in appointing and in principle re-appointing all commissioners and statutory office holders, and that the Attorney-General commit to notifying the relevant government organisations and statutory officers of this commitment. I have an amendment which you will soon be voting on.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Planning) (5.12), in reply: I thank members for their contributions to the debate. The intention of this legislation is to expand the range of people who are qualified for appointment as chairperson of the three-person electoral commission. We have heard in comments from both Mr Stefaniak and Dr Foskey this evening that they have some concerns about the criteria that will be applied. Can I first put very clearly on the record that it is not the government’s intention in any way to provide for criteria that will lead to the politicisation of the commission. I want to make that very clear and up front. The Labor government considers the impartiality and independence of the electoral commission to be fundamental to the provision of free, open, transparent and democratic elections here in the ACT.
I have to say that some of the comments made by members are of concern to me because they seem to miss some fairly fundamental points. The first and most significant of these is that members have not had regard for the fact that the appointment of the other two ordinary members of the commission is not subject to any restriction whatsoever. There is no requirement on not being a member of a political party, there is no requirement to not have participated in other political activities, yet the fact that there is an absence of such a restriction has not in any way led to the politicisation of the electoral commission since self-government.
I draw that issue to the attention of both Mr Stefaniak and Dr Foskey. The two ordinary members of the commission are not subject to the same restrictions as the chairperson of
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