Reforming Government

NSW Business Chamber held the Reforming Government symposium on Wednesday 18 November 2009.

Australia suffers from a high level of duplication and inefficiency between state and Federal governments as well as a lack of clear responsibility for decisions made between state and local governments.

Reform is critical to improving the performance of all governments in Australia. Spending pressures are growing, and while the Council of Australian Government (COAG) National Reform Agenda has begun important work to lift service delivery, reform must continue.

One critical area of failure by the Federal and state governments has been in developing a better model of co-operative Federalism. The practical operation of the Federation is dysfunctional. Blame-shifting is rife. Eliminating these inefficiencies and duplication in order will deliver better value to NSW taxpayers.

The NSW Budget is in deficit. At a time when growth in revenue is contracting, the implementation of practices and policies to ensure Government is operating efficiently will ensure the Budget is returned to surplus as soon as possible.

First Session			Second Session
Who does what and why? Better service delivery through redefined Federal-state roles	Living within our means: Improving the Government’s accountability and fiscal responsibility		Better bang for our buck: Reforming public sector work practices	Close to home: Reforming local government

Who does what and why? Better service delivery through redefined Federal-State roles
Session Summary [PDF]

Moderator: David Morris, Head of Government, Sydney University;

Panellist 1: Professor Peter Shergold AC, Macquarie Group Foundation Chair, Centre for Social Impact;

Panellist 2: Professor Neil Warren, Head of Australian School of Taxation, University of NSW.
Presentation [1MB PDF]

Living within our means: Improving the Government's accountability and fiscal responsibility
Session Summary [PDF]

Moderator: Professor Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA, University of NSW;

Panellist 1: Robert Carling, Centre for Independent Studies;

Panellist 2: Tony Harris, Australian Financial Review Journalist, Former NSW Auditor General.

Better bang for our buck: Reforming public sector work practices
Session Summary [PDF]

Moderator: Dr Peta Seaton; Former NSW Shadow Treasurer;

Panellist 1: Ken Phillips, Executive Director, Independent Contractors Australia;

Panellist 2: Ken Baxter, TFG International Pty Ltd.

Close to home: Reforming local government
Session Summary [PDF]

Moderator: Elizabeth Crouch, Former HIA CEO;

Panellist 1: John Mant, T&CP Lawyer and Urban Planner;
Speech [3MB PDF]

Panellist 2: David Keenan, Director, City Sustainability, Hume City Council, Victoria.
Presentation [1 MB PDF]

Download the event agenda.