Media Release

GG 50/12
20 August 2012

Bipartisan support for changes to Public Service

Major reforms to the Australian Public Service were approved today by the House of Representatives.

“I welcome the bipartisan support for the Public Service Amendment Bill 2012 because it gives the country’s 166,000 public servants confidence in the merit of these reforms,” Mr Gray said.

“These amendments will help to modernise the operation of the public service and strengthen governance arrangements.”

The amendments implement the recommendations of Ahead of the Game: Blueprint for the Reform of Australian Government Administration, including:

• improved governance arrangements for APS leadership, including reforms that will strengthen the independence of Secretaries and provide a clear statement of their role;
• a clearer, shorter statement of APS Values, blending contemporary ethical approaches with enduring principles of public administration that go to the heart of the Westminster model;
• reforms that set out more clearly the role of the Australian Public Service Commissioner as a central authority for the development and stewardship of the Australian Public Service; and
• practical improvements to the Public Service Act that address a number of operational matters that have arisen since the last major changes in 1999.

Mr Gray said the Public Service Amendment Bill 2012 would improve the quality of workforce management in the public service and translate into more efficient and effective use of Commonwealth’s resources and better services for the Australian public.

He thanked the Coalition for its support of the legislation.

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Media Contact:	Website:
John Arthur - 0408 991 261	www.smos.gov.au

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Last Updated: 30 August, 2012