The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has responded to the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service report, saying he has asked Public Service heads to take forward the reporting panel’s recommendations.
Mr Morrison said the Government agreed with “the majority” of the independent panel’s 40 recommendations.
“The Secretaries Board, led by the Secretary of my Department and supported by the Australian Public Service Commissioner, will lead the reform effort beginning with a rapid planning phase over the next few months,” Mr Morrison said.
He said the Review was part of a broad set of Government reforms to the APS which included a new structure aimed at improving coordination.
The Government has asked the Secretaries Board to implement agreed initiatives of the Review, including a three-month detailed “planning sprint” in early 2020 to develop an integrated set of reforms to build APS capability and lift its performance.
Mr Morrison said the planning sprint would be followed by a series of targeted cross-portfolio reviews.
A recommendation to reinforce APS institutional integrity was agreed to, with the Government announcing that the APS Commissioner would lead a series of initiatives to build a pro-integrity culture within the APS as part of a broader cultural change program.
“I thank the APS Review Chair, David Thodey, the independent panel and the APS Review team for their work undertaking this review, the largest of its kind in 40 years,” Mr Morrison said.
“I also express my gratitude to all those members of the public and the Australian Public Service who took the time to contribute to the Review.”
Mr Morrison said the Government commissioned the review in May last year.
The Review engaged with more than 11,000 individuals and organisations, conducted over 400 consultations and commissioned eight reports and five surveys.
“We are committed to ensuring the needs of Australians are always put first,” Mr Morrison said.
“That is why we have already announced a new structure of government departments, to ensure the APS delivers better services and has a clear line of sight to the Australian people,” he said.
The Independent Review’s 358-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
