Governing the City State - Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate ...

Minister for AgeingMinister for Multicultural AffairsMinister for WomenMaking the Change and Making it StickGiven that there has been an average of two changes to the Administrative Arrangementseach year since self government, it is highly likely future governments will want to revise theAdministrative Arrangements. In the first instance, it would be a great benefit to the efficientfunctioning of the ACTPS if the ACT were to publish guidance along the lines ofImplementing Machinery of Government Changes: A Good Practice Guide 128 which sets outclear and common procedures to be followed by Commonwealth agencies. That might avoidthe horse trading and haggling that tends to characterise such changes now.Perhaps more importantly, it would aid the implementation process for the recommendedstructure if the Government were to progress amendments to the PSM Act and associatedsubordinate legislation to implement the preferred model ahead of formal commencement ofthe new structure. While it would be possible to achieve a single Administrative Unit withinthe existing PSM Act, it would be preferable to change it first to signal the Government’sresolve to drive change through the ACTPS. This approach might also give some certainty tothose who would be skeptical about “another round” of Administrative Arrangementschanges that might be undone in a relatively short timeframe.It is also noteworthy that the very significant changes to financial management and annualreporting involved in the proposed reform of the ACTPS will require careful thought. Forthis reason, it is suggested the new arrangement formally commence on 1 July 2011,notwithstanding that “work arounds” could be pursued. There will be a discussion to be hadwith the Assembly on ensuring appropriate transparency and accountability forappropriations, and equivalent constraints on the administrative transfer of appropriationfunding between functions. There will need to be further work done on pooling of resourcesacross government in an attempt to engage better with cross cutting issues like, for example,mental health. These conversations will be challenging, but with good will and genuinecooperation between the Government and the Assembly, acceptable approaches will bedeveloped.Institutional Imperatives and Cultural changeOf course, the establishment of a single ACTPS Agency will not of itself overcome thedrawbacks of siloed thinking and lack of coordination. Indeed, there remains scope for silosbetween Directorates as there is now between Departments. Cultural and institutionalchanges would be necessary including in relation to how the Strategic Board functions andCabinet oversees implementation.128 See http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications07/machineryofgovernment.htmGoverning the City State: 86