The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

The federal government’s new Administrative Review Tribunal must avoid the pitfalls of ‘jobs for mates’

  • Written by Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute
The federal government’s new Administrative Review Tribunal must avoid the pitfalls of ‘jobs for mates’

The federal government is in the process of abolishing a powerful independent body that reviews government decisions on everything from child support to migration status. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) is being replaced by a new body, the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), at least in part because of concerns about political stacking.

Appointments to the AAT represent one of the most egregious examples[1] of political stacking in Australia in recent years. However, there is currently no guarantee the new body won’t succumb to the same fate.

To build public confidence in the ART, the government must ensure a best-practice appointments process, at arm’s length from political interference.

Read more: Nowhere to hide: the significance of national cabinet not being a cabinet[2]

Political appointments undermined the AAT

Appointments to the AAT were prestigious, powerful and very well paid (full-time members were paid between $207,310 and $530,630 per year). This made the tribunal an attractive target for political appointments – a nice job for a mate, a place to “park talent”, or perhaps a chance to return a favour.

In 2022, Grattan Institute research[3] showed a staggering 20% of the AAT’s 320 tribunal members had a direct political connection to the government that appointed them. It is unlikely such a high proportion of former politicians, political advisers and party officials would emerge from a completely merit-based recruitment process.

Political appointments to the AAT grew in recent years, as the chart below shows. Many of these appointments were made in the lead-up to the 2019 and 2022 federal elections.

Political appointments to the AAT have increased in recent years

Notes: No new members started in 2019-20. Only includes members with connections to the same political party as the appointing government. Source: Grattan Institute analysis of AAT annual reports, media releases and table of statutory appointments (as at April 14 2022).

Politicisation of appointments to the AAT undermined the independence of this important expert body. Administrative merits review provides a critical check on government decisions to ensure they are right in all circumstances – recognising that routine government decisions can have a significant impact on people’s lives. Independence is vital to ensure public confidence in these decisions.

The new body must be squeaky clean

The government has decided to cut its losses and start again – creating a whole new tribunal.

In announcing this decision in December 2022, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said[4]:

The AAT’s public standing has been irreversibly damaged as a result of the actions of the former government over the last nine years.

Given the government’s concerns about politicisation of the AAT, one would expect a best-practice appointments process for the new body. But the government’s bill to establish the ART[5] leaves a lot of wriggle room on appointments.

A best-practice appointments process

A 2022 Grattan Institute report[6] recommended a better appointments process for all public boards, tribunals and statutory appointments (as shown below).

A better process for public appointments

Key recommendations are: all public board, tribunal and statutory appointments should be advertised, along with the selection criteria for each position an independent panel should do the shortlisting the minister should choose from the shortlist, or redefine and republish the selection criteria, but should not directly select any candidate not shortlisted a new public appointments commissioner should oversee the process and report to parliament. The ART bill implements some elements of this process. Notably, it requires all positions to be advertised. But other elements are incomplete or absent. The bill allows for a minister to establish an assessment panel but does not require an independent panel. The minister must be “satisfied” a candidate “was assessed as suitable” through a “merit-based” process. “Merit-based” is defined in the bill, but not who makes the assessment. And the new appointments process lacks the oversight of a public appointments commissioner who could report to parliament and provide further information on the process when questions inevitably rise about an appointment. Read more: The fix is in: how to restore public faith in government appointments[7] What should happen now The government will need to negotiate to get its bill through the Senate, and a Senate committee is considering[8] the bill. The Coalition, Greens and cross-benchers in the Senate should be calling for a best-practice appointments process to ensure the ART doesn’t suffer its predecessor’s fate. And if Labor is serious about cleaning up jobs for mates, it should look much further than the AAT. My research[9] shows political appointments are common across many powerful, prestigious and well-paid public boards. A best-practice appointments process for all public board, tribunal and statutory appointments would reduce jobs for mates, improve our institutions and ultimately enhance Australia’s political culture. References^ most egregious examples (grattan.edu.au)^ Nowhere to hide: the significance of national cabinet not being a cabinet (theconversation.com)^ research (grattan.edu.au)^ said (www.markdreyfus.com)^ bill to establish the ART (www.aph.gov.au)^ Grattan Institute report (grattan.edu.au)^ The fix is in: how to restore public faith in government appointments (theconversation.com)^ considering (www.aph.gov.au)^ My research (grattan.edu.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/the-federal-governments-new-administrative-review-tribunal-must-avoid-the-pitfalls-of-jobs-for-mates-225663

Times Magazine

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an online presence that reflects your brand, engages your audience, and drives results. For local businesses in the Blue Mountains, a well-designed website a...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beauty On Saturday, September 6th, history will be made as the International Polo Tour (IPT), a sports leader headquartered here in South Florida...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data analytics processes. The sheer volume and complexity of data can be overwhelming, often leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Enter the innovative da...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right choice keeps your team productive, your data safe, and your budget predictable. The wrong choice shows up as slow tickets, surprise bills, and risky sh...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

The Times Features

How much money do you need to be happy? Here’s what the research says

Over the next decade, Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire[1]. The Tesla board recently proposed a US$1 trillion (A$1.5 trillion) compensation plan, if Musk ca...

NSW has a new fashion sector strategy – but a sustainable industry needs a federally legislated response

The New South Wales government recently announced the launch of the NSW Fashion Sector Strategy, 2025–28[1]. The strategy, developed in partnership with the Australian Fashion ...

From Garden to Gift: Why Roses Make the Perfect Present

Think back to the last time you gave or received flowers. Chances are, roses were part of the bunch, or maybe they were the whole bunch.   Roses tend to leave an impression. Even ...

Do I have insomnia? 5 reasons why you might not

Even a single night of sleep trouble can feel distressing and lonely. You toss and turn, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how you’ll cope tomorrow. No wonder many people star...

Wedding Photography Trends You Need to Know (Before You Regret Your Album)

Your wedding album should be a timeless keepsake, not something you cringe at years later. Trends may come and go, but choosing the right wedding photography approach ensures your ...

Can you say no to your doctor using an AI scribe?

Doctors’ offices were once private. But increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) scribes (also known as digital scribes) are listening in. These tools can record and trans...