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

cohesive approach and therefore sustainable communities. This in turn has implications forthe ACT and its surrounding regions.In light of this, CMD has a critical role to play by establishing a Sustainable Policy Unit. Inthis way, a more cohesive approach could be adopted between the social, economic andenvironment goals and outcomes. This does not take away the responsibilities and leadershipof other agencies in their role of implementation but it does bring together the social,economic and environment imperatives to develop an integrated framework to guide theACT’s future in the long term. 176New Functions and New CapacityA view consistently expressed by stakeholders outside government, as well as within theACTPS and within the current CMD, is that there are areas that would be better able to fulfilltheir roles if there were additional resources available. These areas included workforceplanning and governance frameworks as well as the core central agency policy function.UnionsACT argued, for example, in its Submission to the Review that:The current resourcing in the Public Sector Management Group and the Office of IndustrialRelations is completely inadequate to undertake the expected role to the benefit of thegovernment, employees and departments. 177The CPSU similarly argued in its Submission that:there is potential to better monitor and coordinate strategic service wide advice to governmentthrough the increased centralisation and enhancement of resources available in the ChiefMinister’s Department. 178It also argued:there needs to be greater recognition of the co-ordination and gatekeeper role that CMD playsand how this impacts on government objectives and policy delivery. To be more effective andconsistent in delivering on government policy and objectives, CMD should be betterresourced to play a greater role in facilitating consultation with agencies and stakeholdersprior to policy implementation. 179One area where additional capacity would support improvements to the ACTPS’s ability toprovide advice to the Government and support its decision making is in the implementationof the Performance and Accountability, and Evaluation Frameworks to which Cabinet agreedin principle in November 2010. The Review agrees with what is proposed in that regard.An enormous amount of time and effort is currently expended on reporting through Councilof Australian Governments (COAG) and other Commonwealth Government processes,176 Submission No.10. Helen Swan.177 Submission No.3. UnionsACT.178 Submission No.11.179 Submission No.11.Administrative Arrangements Changes: 121