Australia to trim government as PM demands policy delivery

By Colin Packham

 

FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 25, 2019. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/Files

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will cut the number of government departments next year to focus on the continuity of policy and improving service, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.

 

Government departments will be cut to 14 from Feb. 1, 2020, down from 18 now, Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

 

"I want a public service that is focused on the continuity of policy and service delivery," he added.

 

Morrison earlier this year told public servants that his government's policy was not being delivered quickly enough.

 

Despite trimming the number of government departments, Morrison said he would not cut the number of ministers in his cabinet, negating the need for a reshuffle.

 

Morrison said the department of education would merge with the department of employment, while agriculture would combine with the environment department.

 

The department of industry, innovation and science would merge with energy.

 

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Stephen Coates)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-05

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

Small government is good, unless you are a socialist of course.

The Oz federal administration is NOT getting smaller and the government has on this occasion said explicitly there will be no savings. They're just hoping for a more rational organization better able to deliver the programs the government has every intention of developing before the next election ...

At least it will keep the Government printer busy with all those new letterheads.

12 hours ago, mfd101 said:

The Oz federal administration is NOT getting smaller and the government has on this occasion said explicitly there will be no savings. They're just hoping for a more rational organization better able to deliver the programs the government has every intention of developing before the next election ...

In the meantime you can bet further tens of millions will be expended on 'consultants'. Has a government department ever achieved it's KPIs / SLAs?

I am so Happy; I'm getting Clappy.