[no bill text published] New Commissioner and Joint Committee to Oversee Appointments, and Fines or Jail for Leaking Appointment Information
Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2026
Independent BillHouse of Representatives
Senate
Assent
Introduced by: Sophie Scamps (IND)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Public appointments are invalid if they do not meet the requirements of the Act.
Criminal offence for dealing with appointment information in an unauthorised way.
The responsible minister must set selection criteria before the selection process begins.
Independent selection panels must conduct the selection process; they cannot be directed by others while doing so.
The law creates the Office of the Public Appointments Commissioner.
A Parliamentary Joint Committee on Appointments is established to oversee the process.
The bill creates the Office of the Public Appointments Commissioner to oversee public appointments.
The bill creates a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Appointments to oversee appointments.
The Responsible Minister must set the criteria used to select people for public appointments.
Independent Selection Panels must run the selection process for appointments. These panels cannot be told how to do their jobs by others.
Public appointments are invalid if they do not meet the legal requirements.
People who share or use information from the Act without permission can be fined or jailed.