Resolutions

OMBUDSMAN

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:25): I seek leave to move a motion without notice in respect of the recommendation of the Statutory Officers Committee contained in the report.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I move:

That a recommendation be made to His Excellency the Governor to appoint Mr Richard Bingham to the office of the Ombudsman and that a message be sent to the House of Assembly transmitting this resolution and requesting its concurrence thereto.

The Statutory Officers Committee, in its 10 or so years of existence, has made just one previous appointment, and that was for the Electoral Commissioner. This is the second appointment to be made in the history of the Statutory Officers Committee. Following the procedures that were used in the appointment of the Electoral Commissioner, the committee went through a similar selection process in relation to the vacancy in the office of the Ombudsman.

The committee authorised Mr Jeff Walsh, the Commissioner for Public Employment, to commence a selection process for the appointment of the Ombudsman, and the committee resolved to establish a panel to manage the consideration of candidates and to prepare a report for the committee's consideration. That panel consisted of Jerome Maguire, the Chief Executive of the Attorney-General's Department, Department of Justice; Ms Vivienne Thom, the Commonwealth Deputy Ombudsman; Mr Rod Payze; and Mr Ken MacPherson.

Following the engagement of Mr Philip Morton, the managing partner of Morton Philips, and Executive Search Consultants to assist in the recruitment process, the panel reported back to the committee on 3 February 2009. The panel received 28 applications. A short list of applicants prepared by the panel was referred to the committee for consideration. The committee interviewed the recommended candidate, and the committee unanimously resolved to recommend the appointment of Mr Richard Bingham as Ombudsman. I commend the resolution to the council.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON (14:27): As a member of the Statutory Officers Committee, I commend the report just presented by the minister, who was the chair of the committee. I warmly commend Mr Bingham on his appointment.

There are a couple of points I should make about the process, the first being that I think it is of some considerable regret that this report has taken so long to be produced. A difficulty arose because, when the position was initially advertised, a mistake was made within government offices about the designation of the appointment, and the initial process was aborted and a new process had to be initiated. During that time, it was resolved by the government to increase the remuneration package available to the Ombudsman to raise it to the level of a special magistrate, and I certainly support that. The Ombudsman is an important position in the South Australian constitutional system reporting to parliament.

However, I think it is a matter of regret that the initial process, which produced many good applicants, notwithstanding the salary level offered was then less than finally offered, was aborted because those responsible for placing the advertisement made a serious error. However, I certainly welcome Mr Bingham to the position. As the minister indicated, it was the unanimous recommendation of the committee that he be appointed.

Motion carried.