Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process)

Current status

This bill is currently before Parliament.

Policy area

Government & democracy

What does this bill do?

The bill would change appointments to a limited group of prominent diplomatic posts.

Why was it introduced?

The explanatory memorandum says the bill is intended to protect the integrity of diplomatic appointments and address perceived political favouritism without adding bureaucracy to most diplomatic posts. It cites an Australian Election Study finding that the share of Australians who believed people in government could be trusted fell from 48% in 1996 to 32% in 2025. It argues that former politicians or politically connected people may not always be the best candidates and notes that the executive government currently controls diplomat selection.

Broader context

Australia’s diplomatic appointments were made entirely by the executive government, amid a long-running practice of sending former politicians and politically connected people to prominent overseas posts; reporting in 2019 highlighted appointments involving Patricia Forsythe, David Bushby, George Brandis and Joe Hockey, while trust in government fell from 48% in 1996 to 32% in 2025. In response, Senator Fatima Payman introduced this private senator’s bill on 7 September 2026 to create a formal selection process for designated posts and restrict recent political connections, while leaving most diplomatic appointments untouched.

Key criticism

The evidence pack contains no parliamentary debate, committee evidence or other material recording criticism from opponents or independent reviewers. It therefore does not establish any named speaker’s or party’s objections to the bill.

Who supported it?

Senator Fatima Payman introduced this bill.

Introduced in Senate 07 Sept 2026

At second reading in Senate 07 Sept 2026

Not yet reached House —

Not yet law —

Did it become law?

Not yet

Final passage

No final vote yet

The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.

Days since introduction

29 days

Updated 06 Oct 2026.

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

The bill would change appointments to a limited group of prominent diplomatic posts. These include Australia’s ambassadors or high commissioners to countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, India and Japan, as well as representatives to the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The minister could add other overseas posts through rules.
Current and former federal, state or territory parliamentarians would be barred from these posts until they had been out of Parliament for at least 10 years. They could still be considered for diplomatic posts outside the designated group.
Appointments to the designated posts would generally be decided through a three-person Selection Committee appointed by the minister. Its members would collectively need relevant expertise, and all three would have to attend the decision meeting. The minister would have to appoint the committee’s recommended candidate, subject to a separate process after repeated deadlocks. Only one committee could exist for a particular appointment at a time, preventing parallel committees from being used to increase the chance of selecting a preferred candidate.
The minister would give the committee a list of 2 to 10 candidates within 7 days. No recently serving parliamentarian could be listed. A list of 2 to 4 people could include no more than one person with another significant political connection, while a list of 5 to 10 could include no more than two; reasons would be required for including them. The committee would have 2 months to recommend someone or return the matter to the minister.
If one committee could not agree, later committees would receive only 2 or 3 candidates. After at least two committees had returned the appointment without a recommendation, the minister could appoint someone who did not have a significant political connection and explain that finding to each House of Parliament within 5 sitting days. Appointing someone with such a connection would instead require approval from both Houses.
Temporary office-holders would be barred if they had ever worked for specified ministers, opposition leaders or shadow ministers, worked for a registered political party, or served in an Australian parliament. The minister could make these temporary arrangements without a Selection Committee or approval from Parliament.
An appointment or temporary arrangement made outside the bill’s rules would remain legally valid at first, but the minister would have to end it as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the breach.
The bill would commence the day after Royal Assent, but its appointment rules would apply only where the appointment was made after commencement and its term began at least 12 months later.

Show source excerpts

7 What is a designated diplomatic office? (1) A designated diplomatic office is any of the following offices of the Commonwealth: (a) the office of Ambassador to the United States of America; (b) any office of Consul‑General in the United States of America; (c) the office of High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; (d) the office of High Commissioner to New Zealand; (e) the office of Ambassador to Ireland; (f) the office of Ambassador to the Netherlands; (g) the office of High Commissioner to India; (h) the office of Ambassador to the Holy See; (i) the office of High Commissioner to
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) introduced text
8 Political affiliations relevant to diplomatic appointments When does a person have a disqualifying political affiliation? (1) A person has a disqualifying political affiliation if the person is, or has been at any time within the last 10 years, a member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, the Parliament of a State or the legislature of a Territory.
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) introduced text
12 Minister may establish Selection Committees Minister may establish Selection Committees (1) The Minister may, by written instrument, establish a committee for the purpose of recommending an appointment to a designated diplomatic office. (2) Each such committee is to be known as the Selection Committee for the appointment to the designated diplomatic office. Members of Selection Committees (3) A Selection Committee is to consist of 3 members. (4) The members of a Selection Committee are to be appointed by the Minister by written instrument. (5) In appointing a person as a member of a
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) introduced text
10 Recommendations by Selection Committees Candidate list (1) The Minister must, within 7 days of establishing a Selection Committee for an appointment to a designated diplomatic office, give the Selection Committee a list of between 2 and 10 (inclusive) proposed candidates for the appointment. (2) The list: (a) must not propose any candidate who has a disqualifying political affiliation; and (b) if the list proposes between 2 and 4 candidates (inclusive)—may only propose 1 candidate who has a significant political affiliation; and (c) if the list proposes between 5 and 10 candidates (in
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) introduced text
Appointments when no recommendation from Selection Committee (3) This subsection applies if: (a) no recommendation for an appointment to the office has been made by a Selection Committee established for the purpose of making such a recommendation; and (b) at least two such Selection Committees have instead referred the matter back to the Minister; and (i) the Minister is satisfied the person does not have a significant political affiliation; or (ii) both Houses of Parliament pass a resolution approving the person’s appointment to the office. Tabling requirement (4) If a person is appoin
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) introduced text
11 Acting arrangements for designated diplomatic offices (1) This section applies in relation to a person (the chargé d’affaires) acting in a designated diplomatic office: (a) during a vacancy in the office; or (b) during any period, or during all periods, when a person appointed to the office: (i) is absent from duty; or (ii) is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office. (2) The chargé d’affaires must not have a disqualifying political affiliation or a significant political affiliation. (3) To avoid doubt, this section applies to the chargé d’affaires instead of secti
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) introduced text
14 Overarching prohibition and consequences of non‑compliance Appointments (1) An appointment to a designated diplomatic office must not be made otherwise than in accordance with this Act. (2) A failure to comply with subsection (1) does not affect the validity of the appointment. (3) However, an appointment must be terminated as soon as practicable after the Minister becomes aware of any failure to comply with subsection (1) in relation to the appointment. Chargé d’affaires (4) An arrangement for a person to act in a designated diplomatic office must not be made otherwise than in accord
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) introduced text
2 Commencement (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms. Commencement information Commencement Date/Details 1. The whole of this Act The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent. Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act. (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) introduced text

Context

Broader context for this bill

2013

Proposed Steve Bracks consul appointment is abandoned

Plans to appoint former Victorian Labor premier Steve Bracks to a New York consul role were dropped, while former Liberal senator Nick Minchin later obtained the position.
ABC News ↗
05 Mar 2019

ABC reports a long-running pattern of political diplomatic appointments

ABC News highlighted appointments of former politicians including Patricia Forsythe, David Bushby, George Brandis and Joe Hockey, and reported concerns about the effect on diplomacy.
ABC News ↗
08 July 2021

Lowy Institute research records political appointments in DFAT leadership

Reporting on Lowy Institute research said political appointments and women’s representation were both rising within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s leadership.
ABC News ↗
2025

Trust in government reaches a recorded low in the cited study

The explanatory memorandum cites Australian Election Study findings that the share of Australians who believed people in government could be trusted had fallen from 48 per cent in 1996 to 32 per cent in 2025.
Australian Parliament House ↗
Before 2026

Executive government controls diplomatic selection

The explanatory memorandum says diplomatic appointments were selected entirely by the executive government, with the bill targeting prominent posts where former politicians and their staff had been appointed over the previous 20 years.
Diplomatic Appointments (Selection Process) explanatory memorandum ↗
07 Sept 2026

Senator Fatima Payman introduces the bill

Senator Fatima Payman introduced the private senator’s bill to establish a selection process for designated diplomatic posts and limit appointments involving recent political connections.
Parliamentary timeline ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

Introduced 07 Sept 2026

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 07 Sept 2026

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

The explanatory memorandum presents the proposer’s case: greater independent scrutiny could reduce perceived political favouritism while leaving most diplomatic appointments unchanged.

Further sources

aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

No speeches were found for this bill.

Record

Full record

Key dates and decisions

All parliamentary events