The Australian Public Service (APS) will almost not recognise itself as the 2022-23 Budget, handed down by Treasurer Jim Charmers this week delivers a new era of strength and diversity in the Service setting about its duties in the years to come.
Claiming the Government is “committed to building a stronger and more diverse Australian Public Service to better serve all Australians”, the Budget sets out a range of changes and policies aimed at including “integrity in everything the APS does” and identifies a number of changes that support the changes.
Writing in the Budget papers, the Minister for the Public Service, Senator Katy Gallagher said the Government would deliver better outcomes for Australians through an APS that: “Embodies integrity in everything it does; Puts people and business at the centre of policy and services; Is a model employer; and Has the capability to do its job well”.
“An APS with a strengthened ability to work with communities to design policy and services, and to deliver these more efficiently and with greater integrity, will provide better outcomes and increased value for money for the Australian people,” Senator Gallagher said.
“The Government is committed to improving service delivery across Australia, including rebuilding the capability of the APS through addressing excessive reliance on contractors, consultants and labour hire companies.”
She said that part of the Government’s commitment was to support new, secure frontline service delivery jobs at Services Australia, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Senator Gallagher said the Government was also committed to be a “model employer” in which striving for diversity, inclusion and a sense of belonging in the APS was important for Service’s employees, the values it modelled and outcomes for the Australian people.
“In order for the APS to appropriately serve the Australian community it needs to reflect the diversity of that community,” Senator Gallagher said.
Her full paper can be found in the Preface of Budget Paper no. 4 at this PS News link.
