Today the Government announced proposed amendments to the Public Service Act 2020.
The Government views amending the Public Service Act is another key lever to enacting the change they want to see in the Public Service in terms of performance and value for money.
It is also a commitment in the Coalition Agreement between the New Zealand National Party and ACT New Zealand to: “Amend the Public Service Act 2020 to clarify the role of the Public Service, drive performance, and ensure accountability to deliver on the agenda of the government of the day.”
The Minister for the Public Service’s view is that these changes will focus the Public Service on its role and make it clear what Chief Executives should prioritise.
Broadly the suite of amendments are:
- Clarify the role of the Public Service
- Streamline chief executive responsibilities
- Reinforce the principle of merit-based appointments
- Improve chief executive and agency performance management
- Utilise and improve tools to reduce silos
- Better risk management
These amendments are now subject to a legislative process and may change during this time.
More information will be added to our website as the Bill progresses.
The Minister for the Public Service’s release is published on the Beehive website.
