Recruitment for Rebecca Skinner’s replacement as Services Australia is still underway, senate estimates were told on Wednesday.
Following questions from Greens senator Janet Rice, Department of Social Services secretary Ray Griggs said he was chairing the panel.
Other public servants on the panel are APS commissioner Gordon de Brouwer and DEWR secretary Natalie James.
Griggs said Leanne Ho, a former CEO of Economic Justice Australia, to be on the recruitment panel.
“I thought in the wake of the robodebt royal commission that having a citizen advocate of some standing on the panel as a panel member would be an important message to the community,” the secretary said.
Griggs said he aimed to finalise the selection by the end of November and “certainly before the end of the year”.
Skinner resigned from her role in September. The week before, she apologised to staff about robodebt.
Officials also told senate estimates chief counsel Annette Musolino is on leave at the moment.
Chief information and digital officer Charles McHardie told senate estimates work between the federal government and the NSW government was paused at the moment regarding the integrated to state-based credentials within myGov.
“There were some initial meetings that were undertaken,” McHardie said in response to questions from Liberal senator Maria Kovacic.
“As you know, there was a change of government in New South Wales and Service NSW have had a look at the path they want to take moving forward, so we’re still liaising with them and further detail to come.”
McHardie added further questions about integrating state-based credentials would be best directed at the Department of Finance, also referencing the communiques of the data and digital ministers meetings.
Earlier in senate estimates, assistant minister for trade Tim Ayres was asked if more strikes at Services Australia could be expected.
“Collective bargaining is a feature of democratic systems around the world,” Ayres said.
“And prohibitions on strike action and industrial action are a feature of some regimes around the world. You know, in North Korea or other regimes, it’s illegal to undertake industrial action.”
Officials said 2977 staff participated in the 24 hour work stoppage on October 9, less than 10% of Service Australia’s workforce.
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