Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

Estimates hearings, 17 October 2011

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Supplementary Budget Estimates 18-21 October 2010

Dr McCarthy-The National Security Legislation Monitor will need to be someone with a strong background in national security issues, a person of high
standing. It is a part-time role, as you know, Senator. That is the reason why we were not required to advertise in the same way as for Public Service positions
more generally. The view was that a good field of candidates would be able to be developed for consideration.

Greens Leader Bob Brown today congratulated Treasury Secretary Dr Ken Henry for a quarter of a century of service to Australians and the Australian economy.

"Dr Henry should be particularly applauded for his work as Secretary over the past 10 years and, most recently, the tax review that included plans for Australia's tax system to address climate change and extract a fairer rate of return on the country's wealth being extracted by the big miners," Senator Brown said in Canberra.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says that Senator John Faulkner is the best possible choice for the post of Minister for Defence.

"Senator Faulkner has a record of great integrity and, frankly, I am surprised that he is prepared to take this tough job on after so many years of dedicated service to the Labor Party and to Australia," Senator Brown said.

"Senator Faulkner gives politics a good name."

Reports in the Sydney Morning Herald today (8/5/99) confirm Greens concerns raised yesterday that the Board of the Office of Film and Literature Classification is being politicised.

"Well placed sources have informed the Greens that the normal process -whereby applicants for the board are advertised for, then interviewed and placed on a shortlist for the Attorney-General and Cabinet - has been dumped ," Greens Senator Bob Brown said yesterday.

"I am alarmed by a report received by my office that appointments to the board of the Office of Film and Literature Classification maybe being politicised," Greens Senator Bob Brown said today.

"Well placed sources have informed the Greens that the normal process -whereby applicants for the board are advertised for, then interviewed and placed on a shortlist for the Attorney-General and Cabinet - has been dumped.

"The Prime Minister must come clean and advise the public if the independent selection process has been ditched in favour of government selection.