5470 (2026). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Internal Affairs

5470 (2026). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What process, if any, was followed for the appointment of Caroline Flora to Chief Censor of the Office of Film and Literature Classification?

Hon Brooke van Velden: The appointment process in 2022 followed the Public Service Commission guidelines for appointments to statutory bodies. This included confirmation of selection criteria for the role, undertaking a call for nominations and shortlisting of the candidates and seeking confirmation of the shortlist for interview. Five candidates were interviewed and three were selected for further assessment which included a leadership assessment, a technical exercise and scenario-based testing. Two candidates were then selected for referee checking and information on the candidate evaluation was provided for the Minister to make decisions on a preferred candidate. Once a preferred candidate was selected, background checks were completed and there was ministerial consultation, including specifically seeking concurrence of the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Women before the proposed appointment was considered at the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee. The Minister then gave advice to the Governor-General on who to appoint to the role. In 2025 the reappointment process involved fewer steps as the primary decision was on whether to reappoint the incumbent or not and once that decision was made then the processes followed was the same for ministerial consultation, concurrence from the Minister of Justice and Minister for Women, consideration by the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee and advice to the Governor-General.