Summary
Independent MP Sophie Scamps is advocating for a more transparent and impartial process for major government-appointed jobs in Australia. In her first private member’s bill, she plans to propose the establishment of a public appointments commissioner to mediate an independent recruitment process, preventing governments from gifting lucrative positions to political allies. This proposal, drafted with the Centre for Public Integrity, Australia’s leading anti-corruption think tank, aims to end the culture of ‘jobs-for-mates’ and promotes a transparent, gold-standard model that includes all accountable authorities. The bill also calls for a parliamentary joint committee on appointments to oversee the new system and maintain its independence. This move to restore integrity in the political system is expected to cost $3 million annually, a small price to pay, according to Scamps.
This summary comes from WA Today, was written by Lisa Visentin, and can be found here.