The Prime Minister has announced major changes to the Australian Public Service (APS) that will see its current 18 Departments reduced to 14 as of 1 February 2020.
Announcing the changes, PM Scott Morrison (pictured) said the new APS structure was part of the Government’s reform agenda.
He said that having fewer Departments would allow the APS to “bust bureaucratic congestion, improve decision-making and ultimately deliver better services for the Australian people.”
“The new structure will drive greater collaboration on important policy challenges,” Mr Morrison said.
He said a new Department of Education, Skills and Employment would be established to consolidate the current Departments of Education and Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.
He said a new Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment would be created to house the current Department of Agriculture and the environment functions from the current Department of the Environment and Energy.
“The creation of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources … will consolidate the current Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; energy functions from the current Department of the Environment and Energy; and small business functions from the current Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business,” Mr Morrison said.
He said a fourth new Department – the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications would be set up to take on the responsibilities of the current Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development as well as the Department of Communications and the Arts.
“The Department known as Services Australia (formerly known as the Department of Human Services) will be established as a new Executive Agency, within the Social Services Department,” he said.
Mr Morrison also announced that the changes would leave five Departmental Secretaries without positions. They are Kerri Hartland, Renée Leon, Mike Mrdak, Daryl Quinlivan and Heather Smith. He thanked them all for their achievements and leadership.
The Prime Minister named the Secretaries of the new Departments as: Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Michelle Bruniges; Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Andrew Metcalfe (on return); Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, David Fredericks; and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, Simon Atkinson.
