Page 4455 - Week 14 - Thursday, 9 December 1993
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We seek the broadest possible response from the community so that we can be informed by their needs and aspirations. It would be unfortunate if, for instance, at the end of the day there was a general perception that the establishment of a separate service addressed the needs of public servants rather than the public. Madam Speaker, my use of this example should not be interpreted as any criticism of the public servants who are diligently working to draft legislation and rules for the establishment of an ACT public service. It would be manifestly unfair to expect the public servants who must execute the process of establishing a separate service to also bear the full burden of accountability. Rather, my example highlights the role which this chamber must play in ensuring that the right thing is done and that it is seen to be done.
The committee's work was greatly assisted by a briefing from the Chief Minister and officers of her department on 31 August 1993. The briefing focused on the ACT Government's submission to the committee, which we received on 13 August 1993 and which was briefly discussed in this chamber on 14 October. The submission itself included a valuable dissertation on the machinery of government, as well as other papers relating to how the process of public sector reform might be continued within a separate service. Also included was an outline of the points for discussion between the ACT and Commonwealth governments. The successful conclusion of those negotiations was clearly central to the establishment of a separate service. Both parties are no doubt concerned with getting the best possible outcome for their public sectors.
Madam Speaker, the committee received a further briefing from the Chief Minister's Department on 8 November. The committee was encouraged to hear that many of the 20 points to be discussed with the Commonwealth had been agreed in principle. However, the committee was informed that the outstanding issues needed further negotiation before proposals could be put to Ministers. Consequently, I believe that it is fair to say that the legislation to be put before this Assembly will reflect the degree of success of those negotiations.
I understand that the key issue for resolution will be the degree of mobility which ACT public servants will be able to exercise with respect to employment in the Commonwealth. It appears to be desirable to maintain the current mobility between services, especially given the relatively small size of the ACT labour pool. Creating artificial barriers to employment would seem to be an awkward step within a population of only just over a quarter of a million.
Madam Speaker, during briefings the committee was made aware that elements of the South Australian Government Employment Management Act 1985 were being considered as the basis of ACT legislation. The committee travelled to South Australia and the Northern Territory early in November to meet with officials to discuss legislative and administrative matters which it believed to be important to the inquiry. In Adelaide the Commissioner for Public Employment, Ms Sue Vardon, made many of her staff available to brief the committee and to explain the consequences of the South Australian legislation. We were informed that, while it was desirable to have most staff employed under a single piece of legislation, the South Australian Act covered only a small proportion of all government staff. Ms Vardon and her colleagues made a number of points which the committee noted and, while we have not yet arrived at a view on these matters, I feel that they may be of interest to the Assembly.
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