Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian Public Service is one of the great institutions of our national life. It's values are basic to our national wellbeing. Our government recognises this, and we understand that the quality of our system of governance depends heavily on the integrity, professionalism and dedication of our public service. That's why I rise today to support the Public Service Amendment Bill 2023, which aims to make crucial amendments to the Public Service Act 1999 and forms a vital component of the Albanese government's ABS reform agenda.

Much of our government's agenda in this space is driven by the recent Independent Review Of The Australian Public Service. Spearheaded by David Thodey, the review highlighted significant issues with the APS. The review revealed a lack of unified purpose, excessive internal focus and a decline in important areas of capability. To address these concerns, the review called for a trusted, future-ready, responsive and agile APS that will cater to the evolving needs of government and the community with professionalism and integrity.

We know that every single day countless Australians find our lives changed for the better thanks to our Australian Public Service. From the cafe owner who turns to Services Australia after their business has been swept away by devastating floods to a student immersed in a research project chasing up a book from the National Library, the APS steps in to support them. Consider a new parent, eager to ensure their parental leave payment is secure through myGov. They rely on the APS to provide advice and assistance. Think of a teenager, brimming with excitement about their first new job, who needs a tax file number. The APS guides them through the process, making it easier to kickstart their career. And what about retirees? The APS ensures they receive their Medicare rebate when they visit the doctor, offering them peace of mind in their golden years. Regardless of who you are or where you come from, the APS strives to make your dealings with government simple, straightforward and meaningful.

But, as the Thodey review made very clear, we need to restore our Public Service after a decade of jobs losses, funding cuts and privatisation of the sector. That is why this bill encompasses seven key recommendations of the Thodey review. These recommendations are addressed in four key priorities. Firstly, we seek an APS that exemplifies integrity in all its endeavours. Secondly, we aim to create a APS that prioritises people and businesses in policy and service delivery. Thirdly, we strive to establish an APS that serves as a model employer. Fourthly, we endeavour to build the capability required for the APS to perform its duties effectively.

This bill aligns with each of these priorities and serves as an important step towards restoring the public's trust and confidence in the government and its institutions. Importantly, the reforms proposed in this bill will reinforce the core purpose and values of the APS, enhancing its capacity and expertise, promoting good governance, accountability and transparency.

To ensure a cohesive and unified APS, the Thodey review emphasised the need to strengthen the APS's purpose and values, fostering a shared understanding of its role. The amendments in this bill fulfil this intent and support the government's priority of creating an APS that operates with integrity in all its actions. One significant addition is the inclusion of the APS value of stewardship. The APS values reflect the culture and ethos of the APS and outline the expectations for the relationships between public servants, the government, the parliament and the Australian community. The new value of stewardship, developed through extensive consultation with over 1,500 APS staff members across the country, represents a commitment to building capability, institutional knowledge and supporting the public interest in the long term. By mandating that all APS employees uphold stewardship, this bill strengthens the important role played by public servants as stewards who learn from the past, look to the future and preserve public trust while promoting the common good.

In combination with the inclusion of stewardship, this bill requires the Secretaries Board to oversee the development of a unified purpose statement for the APS. This purpose statement will provide a shared foundation for collaborative leadership, aligned services and coordinated delivery across the various departments and agencies of the APS. It will foster a sense of purpose in tens of thousands of APS employees, promoting a unified approach. This purpose statement will be subject to regular consultation and refreshment every five years to account for the evolving role of the APS.

Preserving the impartiality of the APS is vital to its effective functioning and to the maintenance of public trust. We know that political interference in APS employment matters would undermine this impartiality. To safeguard an apolitical approach to APS employment, this bill reinforces the provision in the Public Service Act that prohibits ministers from directly speaking with agency heads on individual APS staffing decisions. This reaffirms the apolitical role of the APS and empowers agency heads to execute their duties and powers with integrity.

Building the capability and expertise of the APS is crucial for its long-term effectiveness. The APS relies on talented and committed individuals as its foundation. To ensure its future readiness, the APS must continually enhance the capabilities of its staff, fostering a skilled and confident workforce that can deliver modern policy and service solutions for years to come. Collaboration with the Australian public is essential for problem-solving and co-designing effective solutions. The bill addresses the erosion of the APS capability by mandating continuous self-assessment, engagement with the public and remedial action. These reforms uphold the APS reform priorities of capability and a people-centred approach to policy and service.

The bill also introduces regular, independent and transparent capability reviews as a mandatory requirement every five years by each department of state, Services Australia and the Australian Taxation Office. These reviews will evaluate strengths and areas for development, based on the agency's operating environment. Capability review reports and the subsequent action plans will be made publicly available, ensuring a culture of transparent and continuous improvement within the APS.

Recognising the need for long-term policy foresight, the bill obligates the Secretaries Board to commission regular evidence-based long-term insight reports through public consultation.

These reports will explore medium- and long-term trends, risks and opportunities facing Australia. By engaging with academia, experts and the broader Australian community, the APS can foster trust in its expertise and understanding of critical issues that impact Australians. Good governance, accountability and transparency are fundamental to the APS' functioning. Transparency sheds light on the APS culture and composition, prompting necessary changes to maintain an inclusive and supportive work environment for individuals from all works of life. Effective governance ensures the APS employees are empowered and supported in their roles, with opportunities for skills application and development. This bill addresses these objectives by requiring agencies to publish their aggregate APS employee census results along with action plans to respond to their findings. This fosters a culture of transparency and accountability, allowing agencies to listen and respond to the thoughts, concerns and ideas of employees.

To cultivate a culture of trust and support, the bill includes provisions to enable decision-making to occur at the lowest appropriate classification level. This measure seeks to reduce unnecessary hierarchy, empowering APS employees to make decisions, while ensuring that they are not escalated to a higher level unnecessarily. The aim is to improve decision-making processes, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, empower staff and foster professional development.

In closing, the challenges that Australia faces in the coming decade are immense. The APS will continue to play an integral role in meeting the evolving needs of the government and the community while upholding professionalism and integrity. The Thodey review provided a blueprint for ongoing transformation within the public sector, adapting to changing needs and circumstances. The Albanese government has responded with its ambitious APS reform agenda, and this bill represents a significant step towards enshrining important reforms. Through these measures, we can enhance and reinforce the public's trust and faith in government and in one of its most critical institutions, the Australian Public Service.

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