Legislation to promote greater accountability in public service now law

4/10/94

Landmark legislation designed to promote greater accountability, good management and integrity in the Western Australian public service has now become law. 

Premier Richard Court said the Public Sector Management Act would address long-standing deficiencies in the legislation it will replace - the Public Service Act - and deal with problems identified by the WA Inc Royal Commission.

"WA has a good public service and this Act is designed to preserve the best existing public service practices, while protecting and strengthening them with a range of reforms," Mr Court said.

"The unacceptable behaviour of some people in government during the WA Inc years has shown that action needed to be taken to ensure that the constitutional integrity of the public service is secure. 

"Besides the improper behaviour of individuals in the past, a deficiency has existed in that no single, independent agency has been responsible for the general overseeing and supervision of standards across the entire public service." 

Mr Court said that as a result, one of the most important aspects of the new Act was the creation of an independent statutory office of Commissioner for Public Sector Standards. 

"The Commissioner will be responsible for establishing codes of ethics and standards of conduct and integrity to be applied across the public sector," he said. 

"The Commissioner will also ensure that public sector employees comply with general principles of official conduct and human resource management." 

The Premier said Executive Council had approved the appointment of Digby Blight as the inaugural Commissioner.

Mr Blight takes up the position following nine years as Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. 

"Mr Blight joined the WA Public Service in 1947 and his complete knowledge of Government systems and procedures and his long-established standing within and outside the public sector made him an ideal choice for the position," Mr Court said. 

Dr Jim Gill, WA's Commissioner of Railways, takes over as Acting Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. 

Mr Court said other key features of the Public Sector Management Act included:

·       the devolution of management authority to chief executive officers;

·       specified appointment procedures for chief executive officers and senior executives appointed on contract; 

·       tightening of the employment arrangements for staff in ministerial offices; 

·       procedures to govern the dealings and communications between agency staff and ministerial advisers; and -

·       the prohibition of nepotism and patronage, with merit enshrined as one of the governing principles of the Act. 

"The legislation highlights the importance of service to the community and promotes sound management practices within a realistic framework," Mr Court said. 

"We have stressed accountability by clarifying the roles of key players in the process.  At the same time we have endeavoured to promote and emphasise effectiveness and efficiency.

"No Government can legislate for honesty and you cannot instantly create better Government - but we can help create an environment which is more conducive to improved practices, where the lines of responsibility are more clearly defined and in which all government employees are able to effectively serve the people of WA. 

"The new Public Sector Management Act is a key part in creating that better environment."