Malcolm Turnbull announces sweeping review into public service
MALCOLM Turnbull has announced a sweeping review into the Australian public service, amid concerns about the soaring taxpayer bill for private consultants.
Federal Budget
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MALCOLM Turnbull has announced a sweeping review into whether the Australian public service is “fit for purpose” given most of its design was more than 40 years old.
It comes amid growing concerns about the amount of taxpayer funds going to hiring consultants after years of jobs cuts in the public service.
A government audit last year revealed the cost of consultants increased from $200 million in 2012-13 to $500 million in 2016-17.
Prime Minister Turnbull said the review was “timely” when announcing it this afternoon in a joint statement with Financial Services Minister Kelly O’Dwyer.
The review will examine the “capability, culture and operating model” of the public service, as well as how it “ensures the transparent and most effective use of taxpayers’ money”.
“Many of the fundamentals of Australia’s public sector in 2018 reflect the outcomes of a Royal Commission held back in the mid 1970s,” Mr Turnbull said.
“It is therefore timely to examine the capability, culture and operating model of the APS, to ensure it is equipped to engage with the key policy, service delivery and regulatory issues of the day.
“Crucially, this also means ensuring our public service attracts and retains people with the appropriate skills and capabilities to fulfil its functions.”
The Prime Minister said the had a long history advising governments and serving the Australian people well.
But a range of global, technological and public policy developments were transforming the economy and society and “presenting both opportunities and challenges”.
“The public sector has a critical role in this context. Our APS must be apolitical, professional and efficient. It needs to drive policy and implementation, using technology and data to deliver for the Australian community,” Mr Turnbull said.
Former Telstra chief executive and current chair of the CSIRO David Thodey will lead the review, along with ANZ’s Group Executive of Digital Banking Maile Carnegie, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne
Professor Glyn Davis, Dr former Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy Gordon de Brouwer, Chancellor of the University of Sydney Belinda Hutchinson and Coca-Cola Amatil Group Managing Director Alison Watkins.
The panel is due to report to government in the first half of 2019.