Fact - Morrison government unnecessarily extended plum jobs worth up to $500,000 ahead of federal election

Plum jobs worth up to $500,000 a year were extended to Liberal Party-linked individuals by the Morrison government in the dying days of the 46th parliament.

Many of the appointments to the Administrative Appeal Tribunal (AAT) were not due to end for another two years.

Analysis by the ABC of the latest round of appointments, promotions and term extensions on the AAT has raised fresh questions about the integrity of the selection process.

In addition to fielding accusations that it stacked the AAT with former politicians, staffers, party supporters and donors, the Coalition is now being criticised for rushing through a number of non-urgent term extensions, instead of leaving them for an incoming government to handle.

Among those who have had their time on the AAT pushed out is Karen Synon, who briefly served as a Liberal senator for Victoria in the late 1990s.

She was first appointed to the tribunal in July 2015, and her term was not due to expire until December 2023 — another 20 months.

However, in the week before Prime Minister Scott Morrison set the election date for May 21, triggering the federal government's caretaker provisions, Attorney-General Michaelia Cash extended Ms Synon's term through until May 2027.

Ms Synon is a deputy president of the AAT, on a salary of close to $500,000.

Former Victorian state Liberal MP Donna Petrovich's term on the AAT was also due to expire in December next year, but her tenure as a full-time member was extended by the same duration.

Donald Morris, a former Liberal advisor, still had more than two and a half years on his term left — through to November 2024.

Last week, Mr Morris's tenure as a full-time senior member was extended through to May 2027 as well, along with his salary of more than $390,000.

Barrister and director of the Centre for Public Integrity Geoffrey Watson SC said there was no clear explanation for the urgency of the term extensions.

"I wish I could be surprised — unfortunately, I'm not surprised at all," he said.

"It's just evidence of a deeper and more extensive manipulation of the membership of the AAT.

"There's something really radically wrong with deliberately picking up people whose terms would be extended before it was necessary to do so."

The Coalition also extended the tenure of former South Australian Labor senator Linda Kirk, now an academic, by another five years — despite her term still having 21 months left.

Mr Watson — a long-term critic of the Coalition's management of the AAT and its handling of the debate for a national anti-corruption commission — was not convinced that the moves absolved the Coalition of further scrutiny.

"It's in the interests of the current government to sprinkle a few positions or appointments around to their opposition, because what goes around comes around," he said.

"It's actually the takeover of the independence of the AAT — the whole idea is bad."

Others who had their terms extended well before they were due to expire include Rachel Westaway, who was a former Liberal candidate for the New South Wales parliament.

Last week, the Coalition was slammed for a range of new appointments and promotions at the AAT.

A former chief of staff to Scott Morrison, Ann Duffield, was appointed for five years as a part-time senior member of the AAT.

Former New South Wales state Liberal minister Pru Goward was appointed a full-time senior member, also for five years, while former West Australian state Liberal MP Michael Mischin was given the role of deputy president.

Justin Owen — a lifetime member of the Sydney University Liberal Club — was promoted to deputy president in the last round. Former West Australian Labor senator Mark Bishop was also elevated to full-time senior member of the AAT.

"Realistically, an incoming government would have no chance of removing the people who have just been appointed by the Coalition," Mr Watson said.

"It is possible to legislate so that an independent body would be set up, which can sift through and select the people who are suitable for the AAT."

Last month, a Senate committee recommended legislation establish an independent panel to consider all AAT appointments.

Coalition senators on the inquiry, Sarah Henderson and Paul Scarr, rejected those recommendations.

Unfortunately this happens more and more in our political circles and in many countries around the world.

The USA is probably #1 at this with SA a close second.

Until we get a system in place that enforces total disclosure of finances, holdings and family monies for all folks who wish to run for office (or as they would have you believe, feel a need to serve) this system of stacking will continue.

But please to see that the Aussies are standing up to the CC (Corrupt Chines) wish Canada would join them. 

It just goes to show that corruption is present in most countries if not in every county and I guess it's just the level that differs. I basically just posted this for the benefit of our resident "World Authority", Mike. He once again went off on a tangent, this time it was about our upcoming election of which he knows nothing, there was absolutely no merit in what he had to say and for that reason he stands guilty of the very thing he accuses others......swallowing media BS. I know that the election is being fought on different issues to what he professes and the above is one of several.

That said, I'm kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place, I used to vote for the Labour Party but they've consistently proven to be inept when in office and since then I've switched to the conservative Liberal Party. Problem is we're stuck with little to choose from, the country badly needs a change of government, the Liberal Party has shown themselves to be corrupt but the Labour Party is a sad alternative. Let's say the Labour Party wins, at the conclusion of their term the country will once again be bankrupt....I know having witnessed it at both state and federal level.

Eina!

Well Denny 

I am not a world authority at all - what I do is to look at real situations and try and get a balance between their actions and propaganda,    I have been reading up on  the Australia  political  situation for the past year and did not like overmuch  what I have seen.   

Be it as it may the above report  is an example of what is wrong in democracies in the world.   The present level of corruption in democracies are totally unacceptable.    In SA the situation caused near bankruptcy of the country - in the USA at present it is much worse.         

Personally I think China is a long-term threat to Australia  and that like the USA China has too much control over imports and exports insofar as Australia is concerned,   The present administration tried to do something about a potential threat by buying  submarines from the USA  - but whether that will be effective against a potential China threat is questionable.

Denny - I am very upset about something personal.    My parents had four children -  and my last remaining brother died yesterday,    My little sister died when she was 11 years old suffering from a blood disease caused by intermarriage rife in the Riversdale area between cousins and second cousins  causing blood and mental problems in the  period between 1800 and 1950.   Fact is that by 1950  it was easier to find and identify people in the area who were not related to each other than it was to identify family linkages.    My youngest brother  died at the age 49 of cancer caused  by some growth he was borne with in his intestines and should have been removed - which suddenly at the age of 48 became cancerous.   My brother who died yesterday at the age of 81 had health problems since June last year and became bedridden.   So at 80 next month I am the only child of  my parents still living.      .      

".....China has too much control over imports and exports insofar as Australia is concerned,..."

Wrong.....again. 

We've told China to F/off!

My deepest sympathy, mate. 

Stay strong.

Thanks Denny.

I hope you are right. my friend.   There are now 3 Chinese owned businesses in Riversdale of all places - they seems to be all over the show in most towns and cities in SA.    They sell things cheaper than the main shopping centers and their businesses flourish.   One example they sell Chinese imported cigarettes at at about $Oz7 for a carton of 10 packets.      Cigarette prices in SA normally cost $Oz4,5 for a single packet.          

Duplication