State Sector reform bill introduced
Hon Dr Jonathan
Coleman
Minister of State
Services
30 August 2012 Media Statement
State Sector reform bill
introduced
The State Sector and Public
Finance Reform Bill has today been introduced in
parliament, says State Services Minister Jonathan
Coleman.
“This is an omnibus bill which amends the State Sector, Public Finance and Crown Entities Acts to provide the legislative grunt to deliver better public services,” he said.
“The amendments create a range of public sector management tools to foster an innovative, efficient public sector to deliver better identified results for New Zealanders,” he said.
“This year marks the 100th anniversary of New Zealand’s public service and the strengthening of the legislative framework is well timed,” he said.
The proposed changes provide for;
•
government agencies collaborating more and organising
themselves around results.
• government agencies
sharing functions and services, purchasing goods and
services, and developing systems together in order to
leverage the scale and expertise of the State sector.
•
greater financial and reporting flexibility and the
provision of more meaningful performance information to
Parliament.
• stronger leadership at the system,
sector and departmental level to achieve the desired change
in the performance of the state sector.
The State Sector and Public Finance Reform bill is expected to have its first reading over the next few weeks, with an intention for it to be considered by Finance and Expenditure select committee.
More information on the Government’s Better Public Services reforms, including the pre-introduction Parliamentary briefing provided to other parties and the Cabinet papers and decisions approving the legislative proposals, can be found at: www.ssc.govt.nz/bps-background-material
ENDS
Fact sheet – Better Public Services legislation changes
The proposed changes to the State Sector Act 1988 will:
•
Strengthen the State Services Commissioner’s role in
leading the state services.
• Extend
Chief Executives’ responsibilities to consider the
collective interests of government and longer-term
sustainability, rather than focusing on single departments
or agencies.
• Add a new organisational
arrangement – Departmental Agencies - to the options
available for delivering public services. These operational
agencies will be set up within a department to carry out a
specific function and their chief executive will report
directly to a minister.
• Improve
governance across the system.
• Ensure
the State Sector Act is modern, flexible and generally fit
for purpose.
The proposed changes to the Public Finance Act 1989 will:
•
Clarify Chief Executives’ responsibilities for strategic
financial management and stewardship.
•
Improve financial flexibility to support innovation and
different ways of working within government.
•
Provide more meaningful information to Parliament about what
the government is spending and achieving.
•
Encourage more strategic reporting on future intentions, and
reduce related compliance costs.
•
Specify the governance regime for Public Finance Act
Schedule 4 companies.
The proposed changes to the Crown Entities Act 2004 will:
•
Support sector-wide leadership by strengthening the
alignment of Crown entities.
• Support
leadership of particular functions across entities by
expanding the scope for the use of whole-of-government
directions.
• Simplify, streamline, and
improve planning and reporting provisions.
•
Formalise the role of the monitoring department and the
Minister of State Services’ ability to request
information.
• Improve the
operation of the
legislation.