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2008
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
THE SENATE
Reserve Bank Amendment (Enhanced Independence) Bill 2008
Schedule of the amendments made by the Senate
(1) Dem (1) [Sheet 5502]
Schedule 1, page 3 (after line 4), before item 1, insert:
1A After section 14
Insert:
14A Procedures for merit selection of appointments
(1) The Minister must by writing determine a code of practice for selecting and appointing the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the 6 other members as required by section 14 that sets out general principles on which the selections are to be made, including but not limited to:
(b) independent scrutiny of appointments; and
(c) probity; and
(d) openness and transparency.
(2) After determining a code of practice under subsection (1), the Minister must publish the code in the Gazette .
(3) Not later than every fifth anniversary after a code of practice has been determined, the Minister must review the code.
(4) In reviewing a code of practice, the Minister must invite the public to comment on the code.
(5) A code of practice determined under subsection (1) is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 .
(2) Opp (1) [Sheet 5497]
Schedule 1, page 3 (after line 8), after item 2, insert:
2A After section 24B
Insert:
24C Governor and House of Representatives
The Governor must make himself or herself available to give evidence before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, or any successor committee designated for the purpose of this section by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at times and places to be agreed with the Committee but in any case not less than four times per year if requested by the Committee.
(3) Opp (2) [Sheet 5497]
Schedule 1, item 3, page 3 (line 9) to page 4 (line 28), omit the item, substitute:
3 After section 25
Insert:
25AA Termination of appointment as Governor or Deputy Governor
Termination at request of Parliament
(1) The Governor-General may terminate the appointment of the Governor or the Deputy Governor if each House of the Parliament, in the same session of the Parliament, presents an address to the Governor-General praying for the termination of the appointment on the ground of misbehaviour.
Suspension by Treasurer
(2) The Treasurer may suspend the Governor or the Deputy Governor from office on the ground of misbehaviour.
(3) The Treasurer must cause to be laid before each House of the Parliament, within 7 sitting days of that House after the suspension, a statement identifying the office holder suspended.
(4) A House of the Parliament may, within 15 sitting days of that House after the day on which the statement is laid before it, declare by resolution that the appointment of the office holder identified in the statement should be terminated.
(5) If a resolution is passed by each House of the Parliament in accordance with subsection (4) in the same session of the Parliament, the Governor-General may terminate the appointment to which the resolution relates.
(6) If a resolution is not passed by each House of the Parliament in accordance with subsection (4) in the same session of the Parliament, the suspension of the office holder identified in the statement terminates on the day after the last day that such a resolution could have been passed.
Suspension does not affect entitlements
(7) The suspension of the Governor or the Deputy Governor from office under this section does not affect any entitlement of the Governor or the Deputy Governor to be paid remuneration and allowances.
Ground for termination
(8) The appointment of the Governor or the Deputy Governor may not be terminated on the ground of misbehaviour except as provided by this section.
HARRY EVANS
Clerk of the Senate
The Senate
23 June 2008