The state government will introduce involuntary severance as part of sweeping reforms recommended by the Economic Audit Committee to improve operational and financial performance within the public sector.
The state government will introduce involuntary severance as part of sweeping reforms recommended by the Economic Audit Committee to improve operational and financial performance within the public sector.
Outlined in the $1.2 million final report, released today, Public Sector Management Minister Colin Barnett said while he anticipated the measure would attract opposition, WA was the only state to exercise voluntary severance.
"The state government will be in line with the rest of the country by introducing involuntary severance," Mr Barnett today said in a press conference with Treasurer Troy Buswell.
He said there were currently 87 people in WA's public sector on the "redeployment list", with 26 of those in the past 12 months "not doing anything".
Mr Barnett said the idea was not a tool to drive people out of the public service, but instead to ensure efficiency.
The move is one of 43 recommendations put forward in the independent report designed to re-focus the state's public service to deliver better services for Western Australians.
Should the majority of recommendations be passed, there will be an increase in privatisation of services with an expanded role by the not-for-profit sector.
Made up of corporate and government heavy weights Dr Peter Shergold, Cathy Nance, Peter Conran, John Langoulant, Mal Wauchope, and Tim Marney, the committee was tasked with reviewing government spending, exploring options for greater accountability and transparency, as well as budget performance in the recent boom years.
The government will consider the committee's recommendations in coming months, including as part of the coming State Budget process.
Proposals to implement specific recommendations will need to be submitted to state Cabinet for consideration before they are approved.
Mr Barnett said the report dealt more broadly with improving the delivery of services to the WA community and the recommendations offered an innovative and fresh 'road map' for the public sector.
He said of particular interest were recommendations relating to the state government partnering with external service organisations.
"It is desirable that we look at entering into long-term partnership agreements with accredited, professional organisations to deliver better services than government could deliver on its own," he said.
Mr Buswell said the government was looking to move away from the silo approach of delivering services.
He said the report recommended giving people more power over the services provided to them, establishing community hubs for state and local government services, and establishing a new partnership with the community sector for the delivery of human services.
"It's not so much about cutting costs but the delivery of better services," he told the conference.
"Spending more has actually delivered less and the Liberal-National government will change that."
Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief executive, James Pearson, said the Economic Audit Committee report was an important body of work, as the state gears up for a new wave of economic growth and prosperity.
"CCI shares the committee's vision for a modern, accountable and service orientated public sector that is amongst the best in the nation," he said.
"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.
"The ball is now in the government's court. The WA business community expects the covernment to deliver.
"CCI looks forward to working with the government, and the public service, to deliver the changes that are needed to ensure a strong, well run, and efficient public service."
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.
