Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, , 20:52 to 26:08
Officials outline the recruitment process, selection panel composition, and timeline for appointing the next Clerk of the Senate following the advertisement of the role.
Topics: Public service staffing, Procurement
Speakers: John Begley, Hon Jane Hume, Speaker 3, Mr Henry Pike, Unknown Speaker
might hand over to the black rod because he handles the the logistics for want of a better word. [laughter] The process.
>> The process.
>> Thanks, President. Uh John Begley, usher of the Black Rod. Uh thank you, Senator. So, the Parliamentary Services Act specifies how the replacement would work. So, it's an appointment by the president in consultation with senators. Um we looked at how this has been done in the the most recent time, which is the only other time that it's been done in this way, um to model how we've done this way. So, an ad has gone live. It's been um it closes I believe this Sunday on the
>> Where is the ad?
>> It's on the um APS jobs and the parliamentary gazette or sorry the Australian public service gazette. We've also
>> it's been on Instagram.
>> Yes been on Instagram and there was a press release from [clears throat] the president as well. We've also um circulated it to other relevant parliaments both within Australia and overseas um to share with their relevant staff who might be interested. Um as you can imagine it's a fairly narrow field of potential candidates to fill such a role. Um so this kind of approach to going to other parliaments who which is probably our pool of collective talent um is the most sort of practical way to go. Um so then we'll get it'll be an open transparent process involving um senators in the in the um interview process and then it will be go through the appropriation staffing and security committee um as consultation for the rest of the the Senate before a decision is announced in the Senate. So, what
date was the position first announced or advertised, I should say?
>> Uh, it was about 3 weeks ago, Senator. I'd have to get that date exactly right. It's open for just short of a month. That's the plan.
>> All right. Uh, you don't have If you have a copy on on you, that would be terrific. If you don't, I can get one. >> That would be terrific. Thank you. Um, and obviously when when do when do applications close?
>> I think it's the 1st of November.
>> 1st of November. All right. and uh who sits on the or advises the selection
panel? So selection panel is um appointed by the president um with a I don't know can I mention >> I don't know if I want to give it in advance of uh any candidates who might be applying um who who it's a cross-section so it's going to be a a good cross-section across the um government opposition and crossbench
>> right so how are they chosen president that might be a better question
>> well we go to the leaders so um Senator Cash uh Senator Wong, um Senator Shoebridge, and then in terms of the crossbench, the precedence has been to take the longest serving crossbench, and that's Senator Lambie. Fair enough. >> So that's as it was for the selection of the current clerk and the deputy president is also a participant.
>> Is there a process by which those on that selection panel need to declare any conflicts of interest or
>> Yes, Senator, there will be. Yeah, once we get the packs together and start to um provide that information as like any recruitment process, one of the questions is if there's any conflicts with who's applied,
>> right? Okay. And uh are there published or any sort of written criteria that are used to assess the you know parliamentary procedural experience or independence or impartiality or organizational leadership? I mean you
the applicant pack. It does outline what the criteria are and it does cover those sorts of things as far as um organizational and um strategic but there's also a mandatory statutory um criteria which is extensive uh knowledge of parliamentary procedures and practice um which is in the in the act itself has to have that requirement.
>> Right. Okay. And my understanding is that the president is required to consult on this and that that's part of the practice. What what does that look like? How do you how do you consult and
who do you consult? Well, we consult one by having that panel >> and two by reporting back to appropriations.
>> Okay. To appropriate
>> and that's as it's been in the past as well. So, we have copied past um processes to inform this process.
>> Okay. And the expenditure on the recruitment advice, advertising, all of those sorts of things. Search firms. Are there search firms involved?
>> Very minimal. Um Senator, the only cost will probably be for a scribe to assist with um the interview process.
>> Okay. All right. Um, and uh, the transition process from one cler to another, is there a a sort of a crossover? Is there a handover? How does
>> Well, Senator, I was um, fortunate enough to be deputy cler for six years, whilst Rosemary Lang was the the cler. And I think that's a six-year handover. >> Um, so it does depend a little bit on
the outcome.
>> That's right. Um but yes there will be there will be a handover of um >> what whatever turns out to be
>> And when do we expect an announcement to be made on a successful candidate?
>> So Senator my intent would be that we have an outcome in the last sitting week of the year.
>> In the last sitting week. Okay. Quite soon.
>> All things going well.
>> Okay. All right.
>> So any assistance you can give with people's diaries would be much
>> I'll see what I can do. I'll see what I can do. I may have some more questions but I'm happy to move on. a good time to say.