Lobby groups and unions have given a mixed response to sweeping reforms proposed by the Economic Audit Committee, with some saying the recommendations do not go far enough.
Lobby groups and unions have given a mixed response to sweeping reforms proposed by the Economic Audit Committee, with some saying the recommendations do not go far enough.
Yesterday, Premier Colin Barnett and Treasurer Troy Buswell released the long-awaited report from the committee, aimed to improve operational and financial performance within the public sector.
One of the standout recommendations from the $1.2 million independent report was to introduce involuntary severance within the public sector, which will bring Western Australia in line with other states.
In its report summary, the committee said collaboration will be a standard approach to problem solving.
"Public sector employees will be able to see how they contribute to improving the lives of Western Australians through achieving the goals of their organisations and of the public sector as a whole," the report said.
"There will be movement of public sector leaders across agencies to best utilise their capabilities and broaden experiences.
"Agencies operating in silos will be a thing of the past."
A total of 43 recommendations were made, which the state cabinet will consider.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA welcomed the report, adding that it shared the committee's vision for a modern, accountable and service orientated public sector.
"However, the local business community is disappointed the Committee has missed an opportunity to recommend structural changes to the public sector, including reducing the number of departments and agencies," CCIWA chief executive James Pearson said.
"The ball is now in the Government's court. The WA business community expects the Government to deliver."
One of the winners from the report is the not-for-profit sector, which will benefit from the recommendation to increase the privatisation of services with an expanded role for the community sector.
"An increasing number of Western Australia's community sector organisations will have the opportunity to develop as social enterprises, run along business lines and become financially sustainable," the report said.
"Community and public sector organisations will be genuine partners in the delivery of human services, untethered from the need for unnecessarily prescriptive processes and controls to govern relationships."
Community Employers WA, which represents more than 90 key employers in the non-government, not-for-profit sector, said it supports the principle of outsourcing services.
"The organisations in this sector are experienced and professional in providing these services to a high standard," CEWA said in a statement.
"It provides the Government with a value for money alternative to provide quality, specialised services to those at disadvantage in the community. It should never be considered a 'cheap' option."
CEWA also called on the state cabinet, when considering the allocation of funds for the report, to also address the current under-funding of the sector.
"The Government needs to increase its funding by 30% to non government, not for profit community services organisations in Western Australia, to increase the capacity of these organisations to pay fair and just wages to their staff and continue to deliver essential community services."
The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union was highly critical of the report.
"This is a bible for privatisation without regulation. It is the big sell off of public services and will be a disaster for hospitals and schools," LHMU assistant secretary Carolyn Smith said.
"It's very clear from the report that the government wants to provide opportunities for business to make a profit, instead of running proper public services."
The state government in October 2008 established the economic audit group to conduct a wide-ranging review of the operational and financial performance of the state's public sector.
The review is said to be the most significant examination of the operational and financial performance of the state's public sector since the McCarrey Report, commissioned by the Richard Court government in 1993.
The committee was made up of corporate and government heavy weights Dr Peter Shergold, Cathy Nance, Peter Conran, John Langoulant, Mal Wauchope, and Tim Marney.
