Page 472 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 15 February 2017
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The Head of Service serves an important role in leading the ACT public service to deliver on the priorities of the government of the day and ensuring that the Canberra community continues to benefit from effective and transparent governance. The Head of Service is expected to facilitate the implementation and reporting of government priorities, be they election commitments, budget initiatives or parliamentary agreement commitments. The Head of Service is required to assist the government in meeting its obligations to the people of the ACT. This is a critical part of her role. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to separate parliamentary agreement commitments, election commitments and other budget initiatives as suggested by the Leader of the Opposition.
The Head of Service is required to report on the parliamentary agreement as part of her role in delivering the initiatives of the government of the day. This is an integral part of good government and this side of the chamber continues to support an effective and independent public service. The ACT public service is properly expected to report on the progress of government programs throughout the year and throughout the parliamentary term to ensure transparency and accountability for all Canberrans.
The government has set out a clear and progressive direction that covers education, health care, an integrated transport network, social housing, affordability, inclusivity, protecting the environment and mitigating climate change, amongst other priorities. With such a broad range of key areas for delivery, our officials must track the progress of a diverse range of policies and projects over the government’s term.
Our community understands the importance of a strong and responsive public service and the community rightly expects the public service to assist the government in delivering on its commitments. The community believes that, following an election, we should get on with the job to deliver the commitments that we took to that election: to strengthen and diversify our economy; to implement our 10-year health plan; to deliver the city-defining light rail network; and to complete the many other election and parliamentary agreement commitments.
Canberrans want to know their government is listening to them and working for them. We have listened. We are now getting on with delivering our positive platform and ensuring that we objectively track and report on the delivery of these commitments throughout the term of this government.
The amendment I have moved reflects those statements. It calls on the government to continue the focus on health, education, public transport, renewable energy and economic outcomes as set out in the agreement and our wider election commitments to ensure that there is regular, objective tracking and review of the commitments contained within the agreement, and that this continues. It also requires the government to make an annual public statement on progress against the agreement commitments. This is the appropriate response to the parliamentary agreement and reporting upon it. I commend my amendment to the Assembly.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 12.33 to 2.30 pm.
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