Page 2152 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994
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PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT BILL 1994
[COGNATE REPORT AND BILL:
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN A.C.T. PUBLIC SERVICE -
SELECT COMMITTEE - REPORT
PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT (CONSEQUENTIAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1994]
Debate resumed from 14 June, on motion by Ms Follett:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MADAM SPEAKER: I remind members that we have previously resolved to debate this order of the day concurrently with the Public Sector Management (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 1994 and the report of the Select Committee on the Establishment of an ACT Public Service. In debating order of the day No. 6 members may also address their remarks to order of the day No. 7 and Assembly business order of the day No. 12.
MRS GRASSBY (9.07): Madam Speaker, the Select Committee on the Establishment of an ACT Public Service has produced a report that attempts to dilute the very effect of the Bill that is vital to providing a fair and equitable public service in the ACT. The Public Sector Management Bill establishes a framework to promote the effective and efficient management of the public sector by recognising the advantages of a single service. This framework necessitates the inclusion of ACTEW, the Legal Aid Commission and the DPP within the Bill in order for the Assembly to expect a Minister of the Government to be responsible for the management and functioning of these authorities. Each of these agencies is a separate statutory entity and, as such, cannot be above the law or the expectation of the public about minimum standards of performance and accountability. These agencies, Madam Speaker, are responsible for the use of public resources. They employ public employees. There are certain responsibilities which must be accepted.
ACTEW and the Legal Aid Commission, as autonomous instrumentalities, will in fact have a further degree of independence. They will be provided with most commissioner powers in relation to employment in their organisations. In addition, the Bill does not permit the Government or commissioner to interfere in the performance of their statutory duties. It seems clear, Madam Speaker, that the Bill promotes accountability with the changes that it involves.
The single service is the most important contribution that the Bill will make to the efficiency of the ACT public sector. The Bill replaces the disparate mess of rules and regulations that have appeared since the ACT was created with a legislative framework that gives the benefits of commonality. The economies of scale are obvious. The current system, with its myriad of contradictions, is confusing. The Bill removes this confusion by eliminating the "tons of paper" currently referred to in personnel management with a single, much shorter and comprehensive set of subordinate rules.
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