Page 3047 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 11 September 1990
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Government is taking is the preparation of new legislation to provide an effective and responsive system for land planning and management. We are also rationalising the land release and leasing processes to provide greater certainty. This task is taking longer than we would wish, but it is fundamental to our future and it is more important to get it right than to get it in haste.
One of the most important challenges is public sector efficiency. Various reports, including those of the Priorities Review Board, the Else-Mitchell inquiry into the assets and public debt of the ACT, the TAFE working party and the Callaghan report on the effectiveness of substitute care services, have provided the Government with information and options to enable decision making to be done in an informed and responsible way. This has been supplemented by inputs from such responsible organisations as the ACT Trades and Labour Council and the Canberra Association for Regional Development. The budget decisions reflect input from all of these sources. The Government and the Trades and Labour Council have agreed to work harmoniously in addressing the need for change in ACT Government functions, and I welcome the Council's constructive approach which is already bearing fruit in many ways.
One major decision already implemented was the establishment of a Public Sector Management Board. This brings together private sector, union, community and government representatives. It is chaired by the Secretary of the Chief Minister's Department, and it has moved quickly towards establishing a vision for public sector administration in the ACT, to focus priorities on client needs and, of course, to increase efficiency. I look forward to a continuation of the harmonious, practical approach so far shown by all of its members. The Government values the board's contribution and advice and I look forward to productive outcomes from this positive approach.
A key decision that the Government has taken, with the benefit of advice from the board, is to introduce a corporatisation model for ACT Government business enterprises. This is consistent with moves taking place within the public sector throughout Australia and provides an important means of effecting micro-economic reform in government. Introducing commercially based practices will encourage improvements in efficiency, better responsiveness to community needs and the maximisation of returns to taxpayers on their investment, as well as ensuring improved accountability. If the Government wishes a service to be provided on terms that are not commercially based, the additional cost will be borne directly by the Government's budget, and not through a hidden indirect cross subsidy.
One of the main features of the model is that a corporate structure will be put in place, with the responsible Minister and the Treasurer being shareholders. Boards will
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