Reform of Australian Government Administration

Advisory Group on Reform of Australian Government Administration: Building the world’s best public service

Introduction

The Advisory Group has been tasked with delivering a blueprint for reform of Australian Government Administration by early 2010. The blueprint will outline steps needed to rejuvenate the Australian public service and enable it to serve the government of the day in addressing the challenges facing Australia in the 21st century.

In developing the blueprint the Advisory Group will consider reforms to improve the performance of the public service in delivering:

  • A values driven culture that retains public trust
  • High quality forward looking and creative policy advice
  • High quality, effective programs and services focused on the needs of citizens
  • Flexibility and agility
  • Efficiency in all aspects of government operations.

The Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, announced the formation of an Advisory Group on Reform of Australian Government Administration on 3 September 2009. The Prime Minister appointed the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Terry Moran AO, as Chair. Mr Moran has since announced an additional nine members of the Advisory Group. A short biography of each of the members is available.  The Advisory Group is engaging in an extensive consultation process, as well as undertaking further analytical work.

Discussion paper

To stimulate discussion, the Advisory Group has released a discussion paper entitled Reform of Australian Government Administration: Building the world’s best public service. The paper provides information on contemporary challenges in government administration, information on current performance and outlines possible reform directions. Details on how to access or receive a copy of the discussion paper are available online or by calling 02 6271 5749.

International benchmarking report

An international benchmarking report Benchmarking Australian Government Administration Performance, November 2009 has been prepared by KPMG as part of the evidence base for the reform process.  It compares the performance of the Australian public service with eight other countries – Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.  It has been provided to the Advisory Group for their consideration.

Making submissions

The Advisory Group invites interested individuals and organisations to make submissions addressing the questions in the discussion paper or raising any additional matters they believe may be relevant to the work of the Advisory Group in developing a blueprint for reform of the public service.

Submissions are being placed online soon after being received.

Instructions on how to make submission are available online. The closing date for submissions is 30 November 2009 but earlier submissions are encouraged.

Online discussion forums

A series of online discussion forums on topics related to reform of the Australian public service will be held during October and November 2009. Further details on dates, topics and how to register your interest in participating are available on the PM&C Online Forums website.

Consultation

In addition to welcoming submissions and holding online discussion forums, the Advisory Group will be engaging in further targeted consultation with the Australian public service, including with employees themselves, unions, state and territory public services, businesses and not for profit organisations.

Contact for further questions

Further details will be made available on this website as they become available.  In the meantime, general questions may be emailed to ReformGovernment@pmc.gov.au.

 

Last Updated: 20 November 2009