Member

I now come to Amendment 44A. It is highly desirable that the criteria to be used by HOLAC should be expressed in statute. The phrase “fit and proper” is a phrase frequently used in law. All of the seven criteria presently used by HOLAC when determining the propriety of an appointment would fall within that phrase. Establishing a statutory rather than a non-statutory test means that both the public and HOLAC will have a clearer and properly expressed understanding of what HOLAC’s task is. The test expressed in statute would constitute a clearer and stronger barrier to undesirable nominations than do tests which are unsupported by statute and which could be changed at the direction of the Prime Minister.