Policy Area: State Services

Statement of General Direction:

Both Parties recognise the need for a strong, committed Public Service designed to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of the New Zealand public and to advance the policy and programmes of the Government.

Key Initiatives of Policy:

A review of the practice and principles of accountability in the Public Service particularly having regard to the independent status of senior management in the public sector.*

Review the Official Information Act with a view to increasing the availability and transparency of official documents.

When the review on the performance of MMP is undertaken the possibility of reducing the number of Members of Parliament will be investigated.

Work towards the development of a Citizen's Charter to identify the public services delivered by government/state-owned agencies and the quality standards required.

Fiscal Implications of this Policy Agreement:

Nil

(All funding proposals subject to being considered within the agreed spending policy parameters.)

Legislative Implications of this Policy Agreement:

Legislative change may be required, dependent upon the above review.

* Earlier this year the State Services Commission was asked to examine and report on responsibility and accountability in the public sector. Further work is under way in areas such as:

• A review of the legal, contractual and administrative instruments which pertain to chief executives, with a view to making clear their overall responsibility for departmental management
• A review of the processes for investigating and dealing with serious management failures in the Public Service to ensure they are, and are seen to be, fully informed, fair, effective and impartial.