Michaelia Cash claims a former gas executive is qualified for a role on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal because she can "work under pressure", as the Attorney-General defended giving plum jobs to Coalition loyalists just weeks before the election.
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Senator Cash has also revealed six of 19 new appointments to the court were made without recommendations from the AAT president, but stressed she is not "limited" to advice from the court.
Labor has blasted the government for court stacking, after Senator Cash on Monday announced six former Liberal politicians and staffers had been appointed to six-figure roles at the AAT.
Facing a grilling at Senate estimates on Tuesday, the Attorney-General claimed the 19 new appointments are "highly qualified" for their roles, despite four having no legal training.
Cheryl Cartwright, former chief-of-staff to then-Nationals leader Warren Truss, will pick up an annual salary of between $193,990 and $249,420 having been appointed an AAT member.
Ms Cartwright is not legally trained, but Senator Cash touted her experience as a gas executive to argue she is "eminently qualified".
"I don't believe she is legally qualified, but I would argue that as a CEO of the Australian Pipeline and Gas Association, she is someone who is able to work under pressure," Senator Cash said.
"She is someone who was clearly able to make decisions, given her previous work with government."
It is not mandatory for members to have legal qualifications, and the AAT's Jamie Crew said entrants with diverse expertise "add value to the process".
But Senator Cash stressed the cohort featured 15 legally-trained appointments, including eight barristers.
Former WA attorney-general Michael Mischin will earn $496,560 after being made an AAT deputy president. Mr Mischin also served as a Crown prosecutor prior to entering politics.
"He is someone who has an in depth understanding of both legislation and the law," Senator Cash said.
"So going on 40 years of legal experience, yes ... He is qualified to hold office on the AAT."
Former NSW minister Pru Goward will also earn between $329,930 and $391,940 annually, after being appointed a senior member.
Ms Goward also has no law degree, but served in a series of ministerial roles in NSW and was previously the Sex Discrimination Commissioner under former Prime Minister John Howard.
Ms Cash insisted that experience of government made Ms Goward a good fit for the court.
"I think for her qualifications stand for herself, and in particular [she] is someone who from 2001 to 2007 was incredibly well-known across Australia," she said.
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Under a grilling from Labor senator Kim Carr, Senator Cash also revealed six of the 19 appointments were made without the recommendation of the AAT president.
But she stressed the Attorney-General is not "limited" to advice from the president.
"Again, clearly, the protocols at all times were followed," she said.
A 2019 review of the AAT by former High Court Justice Ian Callinan found members, who made rulings on a number of vexed issues, should have legal qualifications.
A number of members also expressed concern over what they viewed as political appointments.
Finn McHugh
Finn McHugh has been federal political reporter for The Canberra Times since July 2021. He joined the Canberra Press Gallery in 2019 where he was executive producer of Sky News's AM Agenda, before joining NCA NewsWire as a federal political reporter. He has previously interned at the Kuwait Times.
Finn McHugh has been federal political reporter for The Canberra Times since July 2021. He joined the Canberra Press Gallery in 2019 where he was executive producer of Sky News's AM Agenda, before joining NCA NewsWire as a federal political reporter. He has previously interned at the Kuwait Times.
