ScoMo to swing axe thru Public Service

[Juliar]

Shudders and shivers will be the order of the day throughout the formerly protected Public Service species.



Scott Morrison poised to swing axe through public service
SIMON BENSON 14 MINUTES AGO DECEMBER 5, 2019


Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra yesterday. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison is poised to put an axe through the public service today with plans to dramatically cut the number of government departments with another round of mandarins set for the chopping block.

The Australian, which flagged the changes in July, understands that several more super-departments will be created in a move to dramatically cut bureaucratic red tape.

Senior government sources said it was expected to be the biggest realignment and reform of the public service since Bob Hawke cut the number of departments from 28 to 18 in his reforms to the machinery of government in 1987.

The reshuffle comes after the Thodey review into the public service was handed to the government.

While having appointed new heads of departments in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, Infrastructure and energy, it is understood more heads would roll.


How Simon Benson broke the story for The Australian in July.

An early casualty is believed to be Mike Mrdak, secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts, with the portfolio rumoured to be rolled into the Department of Infrastructure.

Mr Morrison, on becoming prime minister, appointed himself as minister for the public service in a signal that he was planning sweeping changes to the “mandarin” club in Canberra.

The move follows the recent departure of the former top public servant Martin Parkinson as the head of the department of prime minister and cabinet.

Mr Morrison told The Australian in July that he was planning to move swiftly with a cultural shake-up across the 18 government departments and more than 100 agencies before the final recom­mendations from a 12-month review of the public service.

“We don’t expect the public service to run the government. That’s what we were elected to do,” Mr Morrison said.

“In my experience, the public service always works best when it has strong guidance and leadership.”


Early casualty? The secretary of the Department of Communications, Mike Mrdak. Picture: AAP

Mr Morrison said his view of the public service was straightforward. “Respect and expect — respect their capabil­ities, and expect them to get on board and implement the government’s agenda,” he said.

Mr Morrison took an unprecedented move as Prime Minister in assigning himself the role of Minister for the Public Service and has said he will move to act on the draft recommendations already before government that call for sweeping cultural and technological reforms.

He has argued that the public service needs to be given clear direction from government to function properly.

“For a government to be successful, it must always harness and engage the skills and capabilities of the public service to deliver the government’s agenda,” he said.

“This will enable departments to get on with the job, providing advice and services, busting bureaucratic bubbles where it is needed and always adopting a very outward-looking, community-facing approach.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation ... 1725cfac90

[Fred]

Shudders and shivers will be the order of the day throughout the formerly protected Public Service species.



Scott Morrison poised to swing axe through public service
SIMON BENSON 14 MINUTES AGO DECEMBER 5, 2019


Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra yesterday. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison is poised to put an axe through the public service today with plans to dramatically cut the number of government departments with another round of mandarins set for the chopping block.

The Australian, which flagged the changes in July, understands that several more super-departments will be created in a move to dramatically cut bureaucratic red tape.

Senior government sources said it was expected to be the biggest realignment and reform of the public service since Bob Hawke cut the number of departments from 28 to 18 in his reforms to the machinery of government in 1987.

The reshuffle comes after the Thodey review into the public service was handed to the government.

While having appointed new heads of departments in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, Infrastructure and energy, it is understood more heads would roll.


How Simon Benson broke the story for The Australian in July.

An early casualty is believed to be Mike Mrdak, secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts, with the portfolio rumoured to be rolled into the Department of Infrastructure.

Mr Morrison, on becoming prime minister, appointed himself as minister for the public service in a signal that he was planning sweeping changes to the “mandarin” club in Canberra.

The move follows the recent departure of the former top public servant Martin Parkinson as the head of the department of prime minister and cabinet.

Mr Morrison told The Australian in July that he was planning to move swiftly with a cultural shake-up across the 18 government departments and more than 100 agencies before the final recom­mendations from a 12-month review of the public service.

“We don’t expect the public service to run the government. That’s what we were elected to do,” Mr Morrison said.

“In my experience, the public service always works best when it has strong guidance and leadership.”


Early casualty? The secretary of the Department of Communications, Mike Mrdak. Picture: AAP

Mr Morrison said his view of the public service was straightforward. “Respect and expect — respect their capabil­ities, and expect them to get on board and implement the government’s agenda,” he said.

Mr Morrison took an unprecedented move as Prime Minister in assigning himself the role of Minister for the Public Service and has said he will move to act on the draft recommendations already before government that call for sweeping cultural and technological reforms.

He has argued that the public service needs to be given clear direction from government to function properly.

“For a government to be successful, it must always harness and engage the skills and capabilities of the public service to deliver the government’s agenda,” he said.

“This will enable departments to get on with the job, providing advice and services, busting bureaucratic bubbles where it is needed and always adopting a very outward-looking, community-facing approach.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation ... 1725cfac90

One thing that annoys me, is when somebody simply posts articles without comment. Should be banned.
Another thing is when those articles are from sources that demand signing up to them to read. Nothing to the poster here but SOME need to be verified for the lack of credibility. Not that I have seen anybody who lacks credibility yet...

Ok, so to the main point, Talk about distractions. I would hope not only cutting the public service but changes in policy that then retains useless public servants on the books until they either quit or die. There are some very disturbing policies for the employment of public servants that just do not add up… Such as inability to move public servants between departments unless they agree.

Anyway, I look forward into the hope that Morrison will actually do something. I would hope this is not just rhetoric but announcement of action.

[Redneck]

Hardly putting the axe through the APS!.....................Only the heads going and no real job losses!

Although it is different to what usually happens which is the good ones taking the big redundancy package only to be hired back within a month or two as consultants often on better money.

And of course the useless ones wont take a redundancy for obvious reasons.

[Neferti]

Hardly putting the axe through the APS!.....................Only the heads going and no real job losses!

Although it is different to what usually happens which is the good ones taking the big redundancy package only to be hired back within a month or two as consultants often on better money.

And of course the useless ones wont take a redundancy for obvious reasons.

Were you ever in the APS, Red?

I was, eventually, but only after working in the private sector in Canberra for 4 years and being classified by the Boss as an ASO -whatever ... for my salary range.

Previously in Melbourne and Sydney I had always worked in the private sector.

Anyway, I figured that since I was already "classified" by the Canberran private sector, I may as well join the APS and did so.

I got out after 10 years, with my LSL and Super but "lost" my 18 weeks of sick pay I had accrued. It is definitely a very strange existence.

My work places (plural, I moved Departments from time to time, sometimes via a "temporary transfer" for 3 months or so, other times change of scenery or promotion). What I found was a whole bunch of slackers, earning more than a school teacher and sitting around reading the newspaper (to get more "flexi") - and he accused me of getting in "late" - I got in at 9 am and left at five and this dickhead got in at 8 am and was there, reading the paper, at 5, so an hour of "overtime" . I think his name was Brian.LOL

Another bloke used to head off mid-morning to the local park to practice his golf! Nobody said a word.

Also had one bloke writing a BOOK about Soccer. I think he eventually took a Redundancy and was well paid for 30+ years, so living large now. Plays Bridge, I think.
SOME people in the APS work and earn their salary, but a lot of them do NOT.

[Redneck]

Hardly putting the axe through the APS!.....................Only the heads going and no real job losses!

Although it is different to what usually happens which is the good ones taking the big redundancy package only to be hired back within a month or two as consultants often on better money.

And of course the useless ones wont take a redundancy for obvious reasons.

Were you ever in the APS, Red?

I was, eventually, but only after working in the private sector in Canberra for 4 years and being classified by the Boss as an ASO -whatever ... for my salary range.

Previously in Melbourne and Sydney I had always worked in the private sector.

Anyway, I figured that since I was already "classified" by the Canberran private sector, I may as well join the APS and did so.

I got out after 10 years, with my LSL and Super but "lost" my 18 weeks of sick pay I had accrued. It is definitely a very strange existence.

My work places (plural, I moved Departments from time to time, sometimes via a "temporary transfer" for 3 months or so, other times change of scenery or promotion). What I found was a whole bunch of slackers, earning more than a school teacher and sitting around reading the newspaper (to get more "flexi") - and he accused me of getting in "late" - I got in at 9 am and left at five and this dickhead got in at 8 am and was there, reading the paper, at 5, so an hour of "overtime" . I think his name was Brian.LOL

Another bloke used to head off mid-morning to the local park to practice his golf! Nobody said a word.

Also had one bloke writing a BOOK about Soccer. I think he eventually took a Redundancy and was well paid for 30+ years, so living large now. Plays Bridge, I think.
SOME people in the APS work and earn their salary, but a lot of them do NOT.

I did a bit with them after I retired just as a casual..

You are dead right some are the laziest bastards you would ever meet, although I must admit some were hard workers, like all work places I guess!

You get the dickheads like aqua at Ozpol, all talk, knows everything, but is as useless as tits on a bull!

[billythekid]

The problem I found with the Australian Public Service was this....
If a higher position was vacant, then quite often, that position was filled from within...probably a common
practise in all walks of life....
BUT heres the kicker.....
The successful applicant (from within) cant suddenly become an efficient supervisor and kick arse…
Because all those he/she supervises are his/her MATES...
Hence, the whole joint goes down the gurglar….
If a vacancy was to be filled from outside Canberra, then the new boss would come in and kick arse….
Problem solved....
Cronyism in Canberra ensures that nothing changes....
Laziest bunch of bastards I ever worked with...Canberra public servants....a law unto themselves....glad I pissed off.....

[Valkie]

Unless they sake ALL public serve us, we will still have incompetent, lazy, useless, seat polishing narcissists

The public SHOUKD be given a opportunity to pick who goes.

My vote
Every useless, overpaid judge and magistrate.
Every useless one involved in the roads and Maratime.
Every single useless tax department seat polisher who can't seem to catch the billionaires, but will hound an individual for a few hundred bucks.

[Juliar]

Fred indicated he would like to see COMMENTS and expressed annoyance at the paywall. I don't subscribe to it but sometimes I get thru the paywall and the Australian articles are pretty good.

But now some COMMENTS from the Man in the Street.

Mike 10 HOURS AGO
Let's make the Public Service do what they're named! About bloody time!

Chris 10 HOURS AGO
Unfortunately I’m never surprised by the vitriol sprouted at public servants by some of the readers of this newspaper. Lazy generalisations presumably by those working private. Let’s not get too high and mighty. All organisations can work better. Australia requires good public, private and non-profit sectors to operate.

The government has always run the public service. Unfortunately the short termism and lack of coherent strategies is crippling good public policy. That’s nothing to do with the quality of the individuals in the departments.

It doesn’t help that many ministers are not competent managers let alone leaders of departments. Surrounding themselves by ever increasing ‘advisors’, shadow policy makers, who I might add are not public servants, doesn’t help.

David 1 HOUR AGO
I think the ABC's Utopia has got it pretty right! Yes the PS are really very busy, but they are delivering less and less service and effective results

petert 10 HOURS AGO
Small government - good
]
sue 10 HOURS AGO
Talk is cheap.

Norman 10 HOURS AGO
I was pleased today to receive my Australian passport by registered mail. It's been a battle since 2002.
That's the date I first expressed interest in becoming a citizen.
Many and varied were the machinations to which I was subject before becoming a citizen. The local member was worse than useless. His "representation" in fact cost me valuable time.
I had a conversation with my son this afternoon. He paid $142 for a visa application for his 18mth old son and $142 for his 5yr old daughter for a visa to Australia to come and visit the family. Request denied! Oh by the way no explaination given. Can't phone anyone...email only.
WTF?
These are my grandkids.
Stand back buearocracy.
Don, Norm's son.

Bruce 11 HOURS AGO
So......…...….....How many ministers lost their jobs?

John 11 HOURS AGO
Education + Employment = Genius. With a bit of luck the outrage education courses (we know who they are) will be decimated. All they create is division and red tape.

John 11 HOURS AGO
Excellent work, how good is ScoMo! Now we're really getting some progress!

David
1 HOUR AGO
But no "costs" will be saved and not much will improve. It is just "doing things" so something is "seen to be done"

Vincent 11 HOURS AGO
That’s right. Rejoice at the further dilution of capacity for sensible policy-making and strategy for the Nation. And replace it with a new culture - more yes men and women in the APS and the Govt setting their strategic policy to the tune of media cycles... the APS capacity for strategic thinking was already severely diminished by successive governments. Scomo it appears is determined to oversee the further stifling of independent thought and policy advice in the National interest; and use the APS Review as the tool (regardless of what it says). Most of the comments here are ignorant and short-sited slogans... that would be more at home in Trump’s ‘land of the free and stupid’... good on ya Aussies???..!

Em 10 HOURS AGO
Vincent, there has been too much “thinking” and a paralysis that has affected the national interest. Independent thought depends neither on large numbers nor on echo chambers (though siloed), which is what has become the red taped APS. I think ScoMo has done as promised in his election platform, and there is an opportunity to think and act now.
The intelligence of the APS when harnessed suitably with the political will should drive the national interest well.

Alison 10 HOURS AGO
Politicians face the electorate unlike bureaucrats.

Cameron 5 MINUTES AGO
The APS is there to implement the policies of the elected government and not to implement their own policies. Independent thought belongs to the voters to vote in the government to do what they want and not what the leftists commies in the APS think should be done.

R 11 HOURS AGO
That's not reducing the size of the government, that's just moving people around.

[Juliar]

What a difference. When Labor gets in they always BLOAT the Public Service to artificially reduce the unemployment figures. This of course is Socialism where Govt controls all and everything.

It's just so disruptive and expensive these MOG changes. Energy goes back to Industry after three years of being dominated by Environment!




Four departments and five secretaries cut while one returns, as PM reshapes the public service
By Stephen Easton Thursday December 5, 2019



Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled a massive Australian Public Service shake-up, which will see five secretaries out of their jobs, after a morning of confusion as rumours and leaks made their way into multiple major media outlets hours before the official statement.

After allowing various elements of the biggest story about the APS for decades to trickle out and flow through the filters of various news outlets this morning, Morrison released the following media statement shortly before 11.30am, confirming five secretaries will be gone when the changes take effect on February 1, 2020:

Department of Communications and the Arts secretary Mike Mrdak
Department of Human Services secretary Renée Leon
Department of Agriculture secretary Daryl Quinlivan
Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business secretary Kerri Hartland
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science secretary Heather Smith
One rumour that turned out to be wrong was the idea that Health secretary Glenys Beauchamp was in the firing line. She is not.


Another rumour was on the money: former APS secretary Andrew Metcalfe will return to the fold after working for Ernst and Young since 2013. He will head up the Department of Agriculture, which will also cover policy related to Water and the Environment.

Here’s the full statement from Morrison:

Today, I am announcing changes to the structure of the Australian Public Service (APS) as part of our reform agenda to put Australians at the centre of Government.

This morning, the Governor-General approved my recommendation to reduce the number of Government departments from 18 to 14, to ensure the services that Australians rely on are delivered more efficiently and effectively.

Australians should be able to access simple and reliable services, designed around their needs. Having fewer departments will allow us to bust bureaucratic congestion, improve decision-making and ultimately deliver better services for the Australian people.

The new structure will drive greater collaboration on important policy challenges. For example, better integrating the Government’s education and skills agenda and ensuring Australians living in regional areas can access the infrastructure and services they need.

The following changes will take effect on 1 February 2020:

The creation of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, which will consolidate:
o the current Department of Education; and

o the current Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.

The creation of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, which will consolidate:
o the current Department of Agriculture; and

o environment functions from the current Department of the Environment and Energy.

The creation of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, which will consolidate:
o the current Department of Industry, Innovation and Science;

o energy functions from the current Department of the Environment and Energy; and

o small business functions from the current Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.

The creation of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, which will consolidate:
o the current Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development; and

o the current Department of Communications and the Arts.

The Department known as Services Australia (formerly known as the Department of Human Services) will be established as a new Executive Agency, within the Social Services Department.
Ten departments remain unchanged.

I am also announcing today that the remit of the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency will be expanded to include drought. The Hon Shane Stone AC QC will lead the new National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency, providing national leadership and a whole-of-government response to support our farmers and regional communities as they respond to, and recover from, the drought and the north Queensland flood from earlier this year.

The Agency will sit within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and report to the Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, the Hon David Littleproud MP.

As a consequence of these machinery changes, there will be movement and change amongst the Secretaries of departments. The following Secretaries will not continue to hold office in the new structure when it takes effect on 1 February 2020:

Ms Kerri Hartland;
Ms Renée Leon PSM;
Mr Mike Mrdak AO;
Mr Daryl Quinlivan; and
Dr Heather Smith PSM.
Each of these senior officials has served their country with dedication, commitment and a deep sense of public service over many years, and their advice, achievements and leadership have been valued by governments past and present.

On behalf of the Government and all Australians, I thank Ms Hartland, Ms Leon, Mr Mrdak, Mr Quinlivan and Dr Smith for everything they have done to advance Australia’s interests, and for their service, and I wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Mr David Fredericks, currently the Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy, will move to be Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO will take up the position of Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Mr Metcalfe was Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship from 2005 to 2012 and Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in 2013. Since then he has been a partner at EY (Ernst and Young). He will bring considerable public policy leadership experience to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and to the Secretaries Board.

The new structure will be implemented before Parliament returns next year. A full list of the new departments and Secretaries is provided below.

I have a deep respect for public servants and their work in delivering the Government’s agenda. I look forward to continuing to work with the public service to achieve the best outcomes for the Australian people.

The new structure of departments and Secretaries, on 1 February 2020, will be:

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO
Attorney-General’s Department Mr Chris Moraitis PSM
Department of Defence Mr Greg Moriarty
Department of Education, Skills and Employment Dr Michelle Bruniges AM
Department of Finance Ms Rosemary Huxtable PSM
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ms Frances Adamson
Department of Health Ms Glenys Beauchamp PSM
Department of Home Affairs Mr Michael Pezzullo
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Mr David Fredericks
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications Mr Simon Atkinson
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Mr Philip Gaetjens
Department of Social Services Ms Kathryn Campbell AO CSC
Department of the Treasury Dr Steven Kennedy PSM
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Ms Liz Cosson AM CSC

https://www.themandarin.com.au/122170-f ... c-service/

[Juliar]

Will the Public Service Unions go out on STRIKE to protest about ScoMo's slash and burn ????





Small biz and tech downgraded in government shakeup
By Simon Sharwood Dec 5 2019 11:59AM

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has reshuffled the Australian Public Service (APS) and there are lots of changes to Departments most relevant to many channel businesses.

Responsibility for small business is one of the big changes.

Today small business is tended by the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. That Department will be “consolidated” into a new Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

But a new Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources will assume “small business functions”

The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science will also go, to become part of a new Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

Communications will move out of a department tied to the Arts and into a new Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

The changes won’t see any ministers moved on: Morrison’s announcement of the changes said “Having fewer departments will allow us to bust bureaucratic congestion, improve decision-making and ultimately deliver better services for the Australian people.”

COMMENT: These changes sounds great in theory, but in practice moving people and responsibilities between Departments is seldom swift and disruptions are near-inevitable.

The symbolism of the changes are also notable.

Moving Communications into an infrastructure portfolio makes sense as it suggests overdue recognition that in the digital age, communications tools are as important as roads or railways.

Dropping any departmental reference to innovation is a significant move as it ends Turnbull-era emphasis on R&D as an essential economic engine.

Pushing Small Business into Industry is worthy – politicians are always talking up small business’ contribution to the economy – but the rationale for decoupling it from employment and skills matters is not clear, especially as smaller businesses struggle to attract and retain talent.

And then there’s the fact that the Small Business ministry is a merry-go-round appointment: Australia has had 11 ministers in the portfolio since 2007 and none have served for three years.

Channel businesses don’t get a lot of recognition from Australia’s governments, as politicians equate small business with building sites or factories. At first sight, these changes suggest even less interest in our industry.

https://www.crn.com.au/news/small-biz-a ... eup-535004