Exposed: How 'Jobs for Mates' Culture is Undermining Australian Government Boards

A scathing review has revealed that appointments to government boards in Australia have been routinely abused, with placements that "look like nepotism" and are eroding public confidence in government institutions.

The report by former public service commissioner Lynelle Briggs, commissioned by the Albanese government after the 2022 election, found broad dissatisfaction with the processes used by government departments and ministers in making appointments to about 200 boards. It warns of concern about the state of institutions, publicly owned businesses, and agencies.

Key findings from the review include:

• Politicisation and short-term decision-making have reduced confidence in government and fueled public disquiet about institutional integrity.
• Average people believe all direct appointments by ministers are politically motivated, with insufficient checks and balances to balance autonomy with accountability.
• Frequent practice in recent years has been for governments to appoint "friends" to board positions to reward loyalty or promote political priorities, often resembling "forms of patronage and nepotism."

Recommendations from the Briggs report:

• Implement independent and competitive recruitment practices with new legislation and consistent rules.
• Create wider pools of potential candidates with expertise, using thorough merit reviews and public service-style practices to depoliticise decisions.
• All board appointments should be for a standard four-year term, with individuals barred from serving on more than two paid boards at any time.
• Ex-politicians and staffers should be barred from government board appointments for six months after leaving government, extending to 18 months for former ministers and their staff.
• Appointments should not be allowed for six months before the last possible date for a federal election, unless a strict process is followed, to stop "last minute bequests."

Labor's response: Despite the review's recommendations, Labor has opted for a major overhaul of a government-wide framework rather than adopting many of Briggs' suggestions. The new framework, set to come into force from February, will apply to all appointments to commonwealth public offices, including departmental secretaries, agency heads, statutory office holders, and government board positions.

Under the new rules:

• Appointments must demonstrate merit, transparency, and accountability, including through written selection criteria.
• Individuals chosen should reflect the breadth of the Australian community and be based on department advice, following independent panel recommendations as much as possible.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher stated that the new framework aims to give the public the highest possible confidence in integrity and transparency in public sector appointments, emphasizing merit, diversity, and accountability.

Criticism and delays: Labor has faced criticism for its slow response to the Briggs report, with the government losing control of the Senate and facing pressure from crossbenchers and Coalition members trying to access the document. Gallagher committed to releasing the report before the end of the year and offered private briefings to senators.

The impact on public trust: The report highlights that such practices have led the public to fear being lumped with "overpaid political hacks" who cannot perform important jobs properly, undermining confidence in government institutions.