Premier announces historic public sector reform

11 June 2009

Premier Nathan Rees today announced the biggest structural reform to the NSW public sector in more than 30 years – creating 13 super departments from the 160 current state agencies.

Mr Rees said the reforms are aimed squarely at delivering better services for the people of NSW.

“I am determined to have the best structure to deliver better services for the people of NSW,” Mr Rees said.

“These changes are designed to ensure a greater focus on our clients, better integration of public services and to cut internal Government red tape.”

The reforms will:

• Improve service delivery;
• Better align a sprawling bureaucracy; and
• Ensure the best value for taxpayers’ dollars.

The new departments and Directors General will be:

• Premier & Cabinet - John Lee
• Treasury - Michael Schur
• Health – Professor Deborah Piccone
• Education & Training - Michael Coutts-Trotter
• Services & Administration - Graeme Head
• Police & Emergency Services - Commissioner Andrew Scipione
• Planning & Local Government - Sam Haddad
• Justice - Laurie Glanfield
• Human Services - Jenny Mason
• Transport & Infrastructure - Les Wielinga
• Environment, Climate Change & Water - Lisa Corbyn
• Industry & Investment – Dr Richard Sheldrake
• Communities - Carol Mills

“The changes are the most significant reform to the NSW public sector since former Premier Neville Wran modernised State Government in Australia following the recommendations of the 1979 Wilenski Report,” Mr Rees said.

“Similar reforms have been undertaken in Victoria and South Australia and are planned for Queensland. The 2006 Vertigan Report commissioned by the NSW Government also recommended such an approach.”

Mr Rees said the reforms will free up resources for frontline services, cut red tape for business and reduce overlap and barriers between agencies.

The new structure will see the appointment of 13 Directors General to lead the new super agencies.

No frontline jobs will be affected, with savings to be achieved through integration of back office services and further elimination of bureaucratic waste and duplication.

“Taxpayer savings will also be achieved through extending the NSW Government’s employment freeze, which exempts frontline workers,” Mr Rees said.

“Let me make this clear, these changes this will not impact on any frontline jobs or services.

“In fact, our reforms will free-up more resources for service delivery by our hardworking nurses, teachers, police and other frontline workers,” Mr Rees said.