By Sarah Whyte
Board members on the National Disability Insurance Scheme were given a "midnight ambush" when their jobs were advertised in a national newspaper before they were told, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says.
The federal government ran an advertisement on page eight of the Australian Financial Review calling for new board members, stipulating that the candidates must have "substantial board experience either in a large listed company or a significant government business enterprise".
Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield.Credit: Geoff Jones
The experience requirements will likely make it difficult for the current board members - including the chair Bruce Bonyhady - to reapply for their jobs.
The advertisement stipulates that the candidates must have "substantial board experience either in a large listed company or a significant government business enterprise".
Dr Bruce Bonyhady, chairman of the NDIS.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
On Friday, Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield, said the current board members were "very welcome" to express interest in re-applying for their positions.
"It's important I recognise the need for continuity so the new board will be a mix of new board members and current board members," he said.
"If the government was to do nothing in relation to board appointment then we would not have a board from the middle of next year," he said.
"So what I have embarked upon is a process of consultation with the states and territories to lay out a process to look at the appointment of a new board from the middle of next year."
Mr Shorten and opposition spokeswoman for disability reform, Jenny Macklin, slammed the decision saying it was putting the scheme under threat.
"The idea that the board of the National Disability Insurance Scheme would wake up this morning and see an advertisement for all of their positions on the board of the National Disability Insurance Agency advertised with no warning whatsoever, is a direct threat to the future of the National Disability Insurance Scheme," Ms Macklin said.
"Now it takes a lot to make me angry. But I am angry," she said.
Mr Shorten said it made no sense advertising positions of the board when they were doing such a good job.
"I do not understand why Mr Abbott and his Liberals have advertised the positions of a hard-working board, nine months before the end of their term, when in fact we need the states to sign up and Mr Abbott hasn't even concluded those arrangements," he said.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's chief of staff Peta Credlin reportedly demanded that any board member elected by the Labor government be dumped when their term expired.
In March, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed the policy existed, telling the Australian Financial Review: "I think it's fair to say that the government has had a policy or a practice of, by and large, not reappointing people, with a view to refreshing government boards and that has certainly been the preference," he said. "But like all things, it has exceptions."