Opposition Leader Steven Marshall would move Aboriginal affairs into premier’s department as part of a broader public service shake-up

OPPOSITION Leader Steven Marshall says he doesn’t just want to form government at the election in March, but has a plan to completely overhaul how ministers and departments work if he wins.

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OPPOSITION Leader Steven Marshall will move Aboriginal Affairs into the premier’s department if he wins the state election in March as part of a broader public service shake-up which he says will restore ministerial accountability to SA while cutting bureaucratic duplication and waste.

Speaking to The Advertiser on a three-day tour of the remote APY Aboriginal lands, Mr Marshall said the entire structure of government must be overhauled to end a dog’s breakfast arrangement in which up to almost half the Cabinet can be responsible for one department.

Industry sources have also complained that the confusion created by a “spider web” arrangement of ministers and departments slows down decision making and access to government services.

Premier Jay Weatherill’s expanded State Development super-department reports to six different ministers, an arrangement Mr Marshall said allowed them to each shift or ignore responsibility.

Steven Marshall is planning a huge shakeup of government agencies and departments if the Liberals win office next year.

He also pointed to buck-passing over the Oakden scandal, and the fact that three ministers have responsibility for aspects of the troubled heath department, as evidence of a failed system.

“It’s completely chaotic and dysfunctional, and there’s no accountability for the chief executive’s performance and responsibilities are confused,’’ he said.

Mr Marshall said the Liberals would collapse the public service into 11 traditional portfolio areas including premier, treasury, education, heath and transport. There would also be three separate focus areas of energy, child protection and exports. Each would have only one responsible minister and chief executive, which Mr Marshall said would create better decision-making.

Mr Marshall said he expected there would be a cost attached to a restructure of government machinery but it would set a “new framework for a new government” over the long-term.

He said the restructure would include removing Aboriginal affairs from State Development and putting it into the premier’s agency.