The Liberal Government has been caught out trashing proper process in its appointments to the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC).

During Senate Estimates hearings on Thursday night, the Department of Social Services revealed the recent vacancies on the AMC were not publically advertised and the new appointees were handpicked by the former Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews.

When asked by Labor Senators if the recent vacancies, which were filled just days before Christmas, were publically advertised, the response was a clear and unambiguous:

No.

DSS OFFICIAL – SENATE ESTIMATES – 26 FEBRUARY 2015

This goes some way to explaining why some of the recent appointees are so closely linked with the Liberal Party, with one new member of the AMC the founder of the Liberal fundraising body, the Multicultural Liberal Business Club.

The Department also confirmed that the former Labor Government publically advertised vacancies when they arose on the AMC, in stark contrast to the Liberal Government’s secretive handling of the Council.

By neglecting proper and transparent selection processes, the Liberal Government has trashed the reputation of the AMC and used it as vehicle for rewarding Liberal mates.