Page 20 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 1990
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The aims of the review are twofold: firstly, to set the direction for the development of the ACT Government Service through the 1990s and to provide a blueprint for making our public service the best in the country; and secondly, the committee is being asked to identify specific measures the Government can take to close the budget gap between the current cost of providing ACT Government services and the revenue that will be available to fund those services upon completion of the phase-out of guaranteed levels of Commonwealth financial support for the ACT in 1991.
The Government sees these two objectives as being complementary and wishes to emphasise the need for longer term strategies as well as immediate economies.
I expect the board to oversight the implementation of the Government's decisions upon completion of the review, as well as carrying out the review in the first place. In this way we will ensure that the recommendations are such that they can be put into practice and that they are not forgotten due to other important matters taking precedence after the report has been lodged.
There is no way that we can escape the fact that the ACT must pay its way. This committee will be giving the Government very positive guidance upon what we will need to do to make sure that we live within our means and also as to how we can provide our services in the best way for the people of Canberra in the future.
I do not pretend that this will be an easy task and I am aware that hard decisions will be required if we are to bring responsible fiscal management to the Australian Capital Territory.
Across the country there are significant structural changes taking place and I am sure that, as has happened elsewhere, the union movement will play a constructive and responsible role in this review.
I have already commenced discussions with the union movement and I look forward to its positive involvement in helping the Government reach decisions which ensure both that the ACT community continues to receive the support it deserves from this Government and fully protect the interests of our dedicated and professional staff.
This is an opportunity to create the last public service in Australia. We want it also to be the best in Australia so that the people of the ACT are given the best service and so that it attracts the best people to work in it. We want it to be capable of delivering necessary government services at least cost to the ACT taxpayer.
I am confident that the Legislative Assembly will support the Government's initiative in establishing this Priorities Review Board and the positive changes which the Government
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