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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 12 Hansard (24 November) . . Page.. 3572 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

Of course, the career Public Service has its shortcomings, but nothing like the systemic incompetence, which was uncovered by the coroner. (Extension of time granted) I would ask members to examine this extract at length. However, it is on the final sentence that I would like to focus. Let me read it again:

The restructure of public service in Australia has been touted as "reforms". However, it appears that they have merely been "changes". And where these changes have not worked - and from my brief examination so far I believe the problems are endemic - all that has happened is that one supposed flawed system has been replaced with another flawed system.

Here in the ACT I can see indications that the structure of our senior bureaucracy is systemically flawed, and it must go - period. And it must go because I have no confidence that a Liberal government led by someone else, or indeed a Labor government if it were installed today, would fare any better than the present one. Simply, one set of yes men and women would be replaced with another set of yes men and women, working under the same flawed performance-based system.

I am more concerned, Mr Speaker, right now, with recognising the true extent of the failings of the present system and changing them, than rushing to change the leader of the government for a new leader to merely preside over the same system. Once the Auditor-General's report is tabled, I believe we will have a clear picture of the workings of our senior public officials, and at that time I will be in a position to finally decide the fate of the Minister who instigated and currently presides over that system.

The failure of some levels of our bureaucracy has absolutely staggered me, not only those highlighted by the coroner, but from what I have already seen in relation to Bruce Stadium. It has become increasingly clear to me that our so-called Public Service reforms have been a disaster. Last week, the Chief Minister announced an independent review of the Public Service in regard to matters which were highlighted by the coroner. While I do not doubt the ability of her appointee, Mr Tom Sherman, to carry out that review, Mrs Carnell's comment on the weekend that Mr Sherman's views on the Public Service fit very well with her style of government cause me to believe that this review is just window dressing and will effect little real change.

I challenge members to consider the coroner's findings on our Public Service and also their understanding of the Bruce Stadium redevelopment in light of the comments I have made today, and perhaps measure them against the comment from one of Britain's most able Labour Ministers, Herbert Morrison, who said:

Civil servants take enormous pains to give a minister all the facts and warn him against pitfalls. If they think the policy he contemplates is wrong, they will tell him why, but always on the basis that it is for

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