The Australian Government values the principles of diversity and inclusion with respect to the composition of Australian Government boards, and considers diversity a fundamental component of creating a fairer, more inclusive Australia.
Australian Government boards, bodies and committees cover a wide range of responsibilities, including policy advisory boards, Government Business Enterprises, and review and enquiry boards.
The Geographic Diversity of Australian Government Boards Report provides a state and territory comparison of the geographic diversity of board appointments.
Why is geographic diversity important?
The benefits of diversity to board governance and performance arise from appointing board members with different perspectives, experiences, backgrounds and lifestyles.
One of the ways that this diversity is fostered is through appointing people from metropolitan, rural and regional areas across the nation to Australian Government boards.
The information below shows the population across Australia and the number of Australian Government board appointments in each State.
Geographic diversity of Australian Government board appointments
| State | Population* | Percent | Total Appointments** | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 8,469,597 | 31% | 711 | 34% |
| VIC | 6,959,234 | 26% | 424 | 21% |
| QLD | 5,560,452 | 20% | 273 | 13% |
| ACT | 472,803 | 2% | 201 | 10% |
| WA | 2,951,602 | 11% | 184 | 9% |
| SA | 1,873,819 | 7% | 166 | 8% |
| NT | 254,263 | 1% | 53 | 3% |
| TAS | 575,660 | 2% | 51 | 2% |
| Australia Total | 27,117,430 | 100 | 2,063 | 100 |
*Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics as at 31 March 2024.
**Based on Organisations and Appointments data as at 9 October 2024 for the 2023-24 Financial Year.