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AAP

Politics

Tess Ikonomou and Maeve Bannister

Independent MP tackles 'jobs for mates'

Danielle Wood Grattan Institute Democracy

Sophie Scamps said there is a need to depoliticise political appointments to help restore trust. (AAP)

Australian democracy is being undermined by a growing "jobs for mates" culture, with one in five powerful federal government board positions held by a political appointee, a damning new report reveals.

Research from the Grattan Institute shows federal and state government boards, tribunals and agencies are "stacked" with people who have worked in politics.

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