Page 1868 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2016
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The government took the first step towards implementing the recommendations in the one ACT public service report with amendments being made to the Public Sector Management Act in 2011. These amendments were primarily to facilitate the introduction of the one service model and to establish directorates, as well as to establish the role and functions of the head of service.
While the one service model has been successfully introduced, there has been broader change to the culture and structure of the public sector since 2011. In this context, this bill amends the PSM act to establish a modern, dare I say agile, coherent and streamlined employment framework for the ACT public sector.
I will now take some time to summarise the major features of the bill for the benefit of members. The bill deliberately reinforces the one service narrative founded on collaboration and cohesion of effort and introduces new public sector principles that set expectations of a high-performing, efficient and accountable public sector.
It also embeds the ACTPS values and signature behaviours contained in the code of conduct in establishing legislation for the public service. The bill extends those values and behaviours to all members of the ACT public sector, including statutory office holders and agency heads.
The bill establishes the office of public sector standards commissioner, replacing the office of the Commissioner for Public Administration. Misconduct procedures and public interest disclosure responsibilities will transfer to the public sector standards commissioner, with the remainder of the CPA responsibilities transferring to the Head of Service.
To promote the independence of the role, the bill prohibits the occupier of the office of public sector standards commissioner from also being an ACT public servant. It is envisaged that this would be a part-time role supported by the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate.
In order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the ACT, contract executives under the PSM act will be reorganised into a formally established senior executive service, with accompanying functions around promoting collegiality and cooperation across the service.
The bill will also remove the concept of “office” for executives. This will enhance mobility and allow the ACTPS to be more agile and readily able to respond effectively in line with changes to government priorities.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: Lastly, the bill refocuses the key concept of merit to concentrate on outcomes rather than simply an expression of process. Merit remains—
Mr Smyth interjecting—
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