LIBERAL PARTY INTERESTS BEFORE TREASURY

Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party have no qualms putting partisan politics over Treasury’s rightful position as Australia’s premier central policy agency giving frank and fearless advice to improve the wellbeing of Australians.

 

Mr Morrison sneaking out highly political appointments to the Productivity Commission and Treasury late last Friday afternoon was nothing short of a disgrace.

 

Last week saw Scott Morrison’s former Chief-of-Staff and Mathias Cormann’s former Chief-of-Staff parachuted into Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Treasury roles.

 

There are serious questions to be answered around the so-called ‘panel’ process that led to Mr Michael Brennan’s appointment to the Chair of the Productivity Commission given two of the three panel members have resigned their positions, with Mr John Lloyd resigning his position as Public Service Commissioner in disgrace. The panel clearly should have been re-constituted given the terms of Mr Lloyd’s departure and his inability to remain impartial.

 

There are also questions around what recruitment process was used for the appointment of the Deputy Secretary position filled by Mr Simon Atkinson. Was it advertised internally and/or externally? If not, why not?

 

Treasury’s role has been under siege since this Liberal government came to power, firstly under Tony Abbot, the government breaking with long-standing traditions around appointment processes and now under Malcolm Turnbull with further politicisation and political appointments.

 

I feel for the good and hardworking rank and file Treasury officials who are day-by-day seeing the integrity of their important department being eroded.

 

Make no mistake, Treasury under my stewardship as Treasurer and under a future Shorten led Labor Government will resume its rightful place back as the premier central policy agency and the politicisation will end.