118. To avoid pre‐empting any decisions, potential appointees are to be approached initially only to ascertain:
- a willingness for their name to be put forward for consideration along with other candidates
- whether, if selected, there would be any conflict of interest, in accordance with the Government's requirements.
Appointments of close relatives
119. Additional procedures apply to appointments concerning close relatives of ministers, Members of Parliament, ministerial staff or departmental secretaries and agency heads. Any such relationship should be noted in appointment proposals.
120. To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, those involved in the appointments process should have no family relationship with the person under consideration and any ministers concerned should absent themselves from all discussion on the matter (see Annex I – Appointments process).
Circulation and announcement
121. Circulation of appointment minutes is limited on the understanding that no information concerning an appointment is to be divulged until all necessary processes have been completed (for example, the Governor‐General has made the appointment) and an announcement is made by the minister.
CARETAKER CONVENTIONS AND CABINET
122. By convention, the Government ensures that important decisions are not taken in the caretaker period that would bind an incoming government and limit its freedom of action. The basic caretaker conventions require Government to avoid making major policy initiatives, making appointments of significance and entering major contracts or undertakings during the caretaker period.
123. The caretaker conventions operate from the dissolution of the House of Representatives until the election result is clear or, in the event of a change of government, until the new government is appointed. There is no caretaker period for separate half Senate elections.
124. The Ministry, the Cabinet or the Cabinet Committees may meet in the caretaker period if this is necessary for the continuance of the normal business of government, but the range of matters that may be considered is constrained by the conventions. Normally, efforts are made to clear necessary business prior to the caretaker period, thereby avoiding the necessity for meetings during the caretaker period.
125. In relation to appointments, only those which it is essential to fill are considered, and preferably on an acting or short‐term basis unless a minimum or fixed term is prescribed. Consultation could occur with the relevant Opposition spokesperson, particularly where longer‐term appointments are necessary.
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