Australian Government's first annual statement on APS Reform.

Before the 2022 election, the now Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to invest in and rebuild the Australian Public Service.??

From Opposition we had witnessed up close the impact of almost a decade of eroding and devaluing the APS.??

And we knew there was a big job ahead of us if we formed Government following the election in May last year.??

Throughout the campaign, we argued the merits of building a stronger public service that delivers better outcomes for the community, delivers frank and fearless advice to government, acts as a model employer, and through its policy work or delivery of programs contributes to building a fairer and more inclusive Australia.?

We recognise that the public service is an enduring institution central to the strength and success of our proud democracy.??

While it's not the election policy that will garner much attention in the heat of battle, under Anthony Albanese’s leadership we were open and upfront that we thought the APS needed reform for it to be able to do the job we needed it to do.?

Over the past 12 months, the Albanese Government has been working in partnership with agencies to deliver on its ambitious APS Reform Agenda. Of the 44 APS Reform Initiatives announced last year a quarter are now complete, including:

• The establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Commission.
• The completion of an audit of employment.
• The establishment of an in-house consulting model (now known as Australian Government Consulting).
• Increased transparency of Secretaries Board with?meeting communiques and Terms of Reference now published online.
• The expansion of the Survey on Trust and Transparency in Australian Public Services.
• The creation of an APS Capability Reinvestment Fund,?to fund projects to build organisational capability in the APS.?

I acknowledge the APS Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer , the APS Reform team, and staff from the Australian Public Service Commission – this work would be impossible without their support. They responded so enthusiastically to our reform agenda and are now shaping it going forward.?

Over the next 18 months the Albanese Government will roll-out the next stage of reforms to bolster the integrity of the APS through:

• Requiring the PM&C Secretary and APS Commissioner to conduct merit-based appointments process for Secretary roles and publishing a?Secretaries’?performance framework and process.
• Better handling of sustained underperformance of Secretaries, including appropriate consequences.
• New own motion powers for the APS Commissioner to initiate reviews and investigations into Code of Conduct breaches by current and former Agency Heads (including Secretaries) and APS employees.
• Criteria for the next round of the capability reinvestment fund.
• Develop best-practice recruitment and selection options across the APS?.??
• The application of consistent hiring practices, mandating the?sharing of merit lists and strategies to maximise the use of merit lists.

The reforms we’ve already implemented, the ones that are underway and the ones that I announced today, I believe, demonstrate the seriousness and commitment we have to rebuilding and permanently protecting the APS so that it is able to perform the job it needs to do on behalf of all Australians.?

This is a journey that requires the APS and the Government to work together to rebuild the culture of frank and fearless advice, integrity and stewardship.??

Everyone who wants to play a role in that, has a role to play.??

And I thank the public service for their openness and willingness to make the great 123-year-old Australian Public Service even better.?