Public sector needs ‘a shock to the system’

ANDREW Forrest’s review of indigenous employment has urged a “shock to the system”.

ANDREW Forrest’s review of indigenous employment has urged a “shock to the system” that will compel federal and state governments to hire more indigenous people in public service jobs.

“Just as the private sector has to step up and recruit, retain and develop staff, the public sector has to do the same,” Mr Forrest says.

The review says all Australian governments are committed to increasing their indigenous workforces to 2.6 per cent by next year, but these targets are insufficient and do not reflect the proportion of indigenous people in the population. It says the worst performing governments for indigenous employment are Queensland (2.1 per cent versus an indigenous population share of 4.2 per cent), Victoria (0.3 per cent versus 0.9 per cent) and the commonwealth (2.2 per cent versus 3 per cent).

Mr Forrest says the public sector should adopt key private-sector practices, including chief executives having personal accountability to deliver on contractual requirements and better capacity to deal effectively with non-performing staff.

Governments should also set an annual target to ensure targets are met. “Given the sluggish pace to date, we need a shock to the system to get traction and momentum,” Mr Forrest says.

“Ministers need to be accountable and their agency heads contractually accountable to deliver on results with transparent reporting of progress towards the required contracted levels with full parliamentary and public scrutiny.’’

The review also recommends that the federal government overhaul its procurement practices by purchasing at least 4 per cent of goods and services from Aboriginal businesses within the next four years

Mr Forrest cites his experience in the mining industry to highlight what he calls “the power and importance of using procurement effectively”.