Community consultation improves public service leadership, says Shorten
Community involvement in public service leadership decisions has led to better outcomes at Services Australia, according to Bill Shorten.
Delivering a keynote address at The Mandarin’s Rebuilding Trust and Integrity in the APS conference, the minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and government services said it was vital the public service put the public at the centre of its decision-making.
He said community consultation would improve policy solutions and create greater trust the government was acting in the public interest.
“The first recommendation of the robodebt royal commission is that peak advocacy bodies should be consulted prior to the implementation of projects that involve the modification of the social security system,” he said.
“One way to provide them access is to provide them with direct access to senior agency leadership and decision-makers.
“I want to make clear that a peak advocacy group is not one of the Big Four consulting firms.”
Shorten said the community was consulted about the hiring of David Hazelhurst, the new CEO of Services Australia, and Rebecca Falkingham at the National Disability Insurance Agency.
A four-person interview panel included not only members of the Department of Social Services and the Australian Public Service Commission but also members of the community sector.
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