Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source

Today I rise to support the Public Service Amendment Bill 2023, a crucial piece of legislation that seeks to strengthen and safeguard the Australian Public Service. This bill has been carefully crafted, taking into account the insights and inputs of many stakeholders, including employees, representative groups, agency experts, the public and the Community and Public Sector Union. It aims to reinvigorate the core purpose and values of the Australian Public Service, enhance its capability and expertise, and promote good governance, accountability and transparency.

Historically, the APS has been a pillar of stability and service to the Australian people, providing critical support and assistance across various sectors. The APS has been, and always should be, relied upon to give full, frank and fearless advice. Throughout its existence, the APS has played pivotal roles in shaping the nation and delivering vital services to our citizens. From the early days of the federation to the present, public servants have been a key partner, with government, to deliver positive change and progress.

One remarkable example of the APS's impact on Australia's development is seen in our nation's response to World War II. The APS played a critical role in mobilising resources, managing essential services and coordinating efforts to support the war effort. Public servants then worked tirelessly to ensure that the country's infrastructure and essential services were maintained, even amongst the challenges of wartime. Their dedication and commitment to duty were instrumental in steering Australia through those dark days and laying the groundwork for postwar recovery and prosperity.

In addition to national crises, public servants have been instrumental in advancing various sectors that underpin our growth and prosperity. For instance, the APS has significantly shaped policies and programs related to health care, education, social welfare and environmental conservation. Public servants have been crucial in implementing initiatives to improve public health, provide access to quality education, support vulnerable populations and protect Australia's unique biodiversity. Their expertise and dedication to the public interest have been essential in fostering a more inclusive and sustainable society.

However, there have been instances where the role of the APS has been undermined and its integrity compromised by shortsighted policies. In 1993 there were 165,000 Commonwealth public servants; at the end of 2020 there were 148,000. While Australia's population grew by over eight million in that time, the public sector was drastically reduced. Throughout the years, the significant decline in the capacity of the APS to offer independent advice to ministers has been witnessed. The decline of this is partly due to the deliberate attacks by successive Liberal-National governments on the APS's ability to provide objective advice. Rather than relying on the expertise and knowledge of public servants, certain parties have chosen to outsource crucial work to an ever-expanding group of consultants and politically aligned think tanks. Consequently, an echo chamber was created where ministers were fed information that aligned with their preconceived notions, while warnings of potential risks and consequences of their actions were overlooked. The inevitable outcome has been a series of disastrous consequences for our nation.

We need look no further than the Morrison government's failed robodebt scheme to see the evidence of the significant and severe consequences of the attacks on the APS. The income compliance program known as robodebt was introduced as a pilot program in early 2015, and, despite mounting concerns about its legality and ethical implications, it continued to evolve and be prosecuted. Tragically, this unjust program burdened approximately 435,000 vulnerable Australians with an astronomical $1.8 billion of illegal debt. Exploiting discrepancies between Centrelink and ATO income information, robodebt left countless individuals and families reeling under the weight of unjust financial demands. The impact on those affected cannot be overstated. They faced financial hardships, emotional distress and a profound loss of trust in the very system and service that was meant to support them.

The final report of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme delivered by Commissioner Holmes left no doubt about the disastrous and long-term effects of robodebt on the Australian people and the Australian Public Service. The report pulled no punches, describing robodebt as a 'shameful chapter' and a 'massive failure of public administration'. Throughout the 46-day duration of the royal commission, heart-wrenching public hearings provided a platform for more than 100 witnesses to share their harrowing accounts of being unfairly targeted by their own government. The testimonies depicted a sense of powerlessness, as these individuals had no means to fight back against the callous wrongs inflicted upon them by an unjust system administered by the former Liberal government and their gutted Public Service.

The report findings served as a stark reminder of the need to rectify past mistakes and reinforce the integrity of the APS in service to the Australian people. That is what this bill is seeking to do. The robodebt royal commission laid bare the consequences of neglecting the principles that underpin the APS and emphasised the critical importance of safeguarding the integrity and purpose of our Public Service. The robodebt scandal stands as a sobering testament to the profound impact of neglect and reduction in staffing within the Australian Public Service, and we should learn from the mistakes of the robodebt scandal.

This ill-fated program riddled with errors and ethical shortcomings directly undermined the capacity and expertise of the APS to function effectively. As public servant numbers were reduced, their voices were also silenced. The APS faced significant challenges in upholding its core purpose of serving the public interest and providing independent advice to ministers. The reduction in staffing lead to a loss of institutional knowledge and expertise, leaving critical gaps in the administration of essential programs. Consequently, the former government sought shortcuts and outsourced essential functions to external entities, contributing to the flawed design and implementation of the robodebt program. Public servants who might have raised red flags or advocated for better alternatives found themselves restrained by reduced resources and a lack of authority to challenge questionable decisions of the former government. Moreover, the lack of staffing and resources within the APS hindered the ability to conduct regular and thorough assessments of the program's impact. This negligence prolonged the suffering of those unfairly and illegally targeted by robodebt as there were inadequate mechanisms in place to recognise and rectify the program's flaws promptly.

Throughout the royal commission's proceedings, it became increasingly evident that the APS's neglect and reduction in staffing played a significant role in allowing such an unjust program to persist for as long as it did. With the critical capacity to provide independent advice diminished by the former government, the APS was unable to intervene effectively and the consequences for vulnerable Australians were severe.

What I find absolutely appalling is that robodebt's architect, the member for Cook, despite all the evidence returns to this place without an ounce of regret or contrition. And, despite the fact that Commissioner Holmes found that he allowed cabinet to be misled over the legality of the program, we still have not had an apology from the member for Cook. Adverse findings against him made by the commissioner have been sensationally rejected, yet he stays here in this place while defending his role in this shameful chapter in our Public Service history. The robodebt scandal serves as a stark reminder of the vital importance of nurturing and supporting the Australian Public Service to ensure that the APS can fulfil its core purpose and values, investing in its capability and resourcing.

The proposed Public Service Amendment Bill 2023 represents a critical step in rebuilding and reinforcing the APS's integrity and capacity. The proposed changes have been carefully designed to reinforce the core values of the APS, promote long-term stewardship and foster a culture of transparency and accountability.

Importantly, the proposed amendments clarify and strengthen provisions in the act to safeguard the APS from undue political influence and interference. Ministers will be prohibited from directing agency heads on individual APS staffing decisions, reaffirming the APS's apolitical nature. This measure is crucial in ensuring the Public Service remains impartial and focused on what they are there to do—delivering the best outcomes for our nation.

To build the capacity and expertise of the APS, this bill mandates regular and independent and transparent capability reviews every five years for each department of state, Services Australia and the Australian Taxation Office. These reviews will assess organisational strengths and areas for development, with findings and action plans publicly released. By engaging in self-assessment, the APS will be able to continuously improve and adapt to meet the evolving needs of the Australian people.

Additionally, this bill empowers a secretaries board to commission regular long-term insight reports that explore medium-term and long-term trends, and risks and opportunities facing our nation. The APS can build trust in its expertise and credibility by gaining a deeper understanding of crosscutting issues that matter to all Australians.

In support of good governance, accountability and transparency, this bill requires agencies to publish their APS census results in an action plan to respond to them. This measure will foster an increased culture of transparency and will encourage continuous improvement within agencies, ensuring that the Public Service remains accountable to the people it serves.

Moreover, the bill mandates that decision-making within an agency be made at the lowest appropriate classification for those decisions. By avoiding unnecessary hierarchy and empowering APS employees, this measure ensures that decisions are made efficiently and effectively, contributing to a more agile and responsive public service.

This bill is a commitment from this government to rebuild trust and confidence in our Public Service, ensuring that it stands as a beacon of integrity, dedication and service to the Australian people. By reinforcing the core values, enhancing capability and promoting accountability, this bill intends to re-establish a Public Service that is well-equipped to face future challenges while remaining true to its fundamental purpose. The robodebt incident was a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting the principles that underpin the Public Service. It underscored the importance of maintaining the APS as an institution that serves the people with fairness, empathy and transparency.

The proposed changes of this amendment bill represent a significant step towards rectifying past mistakes and building a stronger and more resilient Public Service. The APS, much like various facets of our life, has endured its share of challenges over the past decade. Through a storm, Australian public servants have demonstrated resilience and determination. However, the toll of the last decade has been substantial, with many facing immense pressure and uncertainty about their job security. Instead of investing in skills and in permanent jobs in the Public Service, we have all witnessed the Liberals and Nationals outsource those roles, issuing lucrative contracts to big consultancies to suit their political purposes. As the rivers of gold flowed into private pockets our Public Service struggled to maintain its vital functions, but this legislation marks a turning point in that journey.

We are committed to effecting change, and this bill signifies the beginning of that transformation. There is much work ahead, but the Albanese Labor government is resolute in our mission to restore the strength and integrity of the Australian Public Service. By doing so, we'll bolster the public sector's efficiency and ensure that it remains a pillar of stability, service and trust for the people of Australia.

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