Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has announced the first round of machinery of government changes in the public sector, with amalgamation and abolition reducing the state’s total from 41 to 25, delivering on a pre-election vow to reduce the size of the public sector.
As promised before the election, new directors-general will be instructed to deliver a 20% reduction in the 521-member Senior Executive Service.
These structural changes are aimed at creating collaborative departments focused on whole-of-government objectives and delivering services in a more efficient and effective way.
The new departments will begin to come into effect on 1 July 2017.
There will be job losses within departments, but tough decisions have to be made. We’re working with departments and public sector unions.
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) April 28, 2017
The Public Sector Commission has established a MOG team comprising senior officers who will work exclusively on the changes. Members of the team have been assigned to each new agency department.
The announcement also comes ahead of the service priority review that will deliver further structural changes and savings.
Public servants will also be called upon to identify examples of waste, inefficiency, duplication and red tape that can be eliminated to improve the public sector, said the premier in a statement.
Amalgamated departments
Existing departments will be rearranged to form:
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
- Department of State Development
- Department of Commerce (industry promotion and innovation functions)
- Western Australian Tourism Commission (trading as Tourism WA)
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
- Department of Mines and Petroleum
- Department of Commerce (regulatory functions and labour relations)
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Department of Regional Development
- Department of Fisheries
- Regional Development Commissions (staff only, entities will remain)
Department of Community Services
- Department of Child Protection and Family Support
- Department of Housing (including Housing Authority)
- Disability Services Commission
- Department of Local Government and Communities (communities functions, including seniors, volunteering, youth and multicultural interests)
Department of Justice
- Department of the Attorney General
- Department of Corrective Services
Department of Education
- Department of Education
- Department of Education Services
- School Curriculum and Standards Authority
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
Includes Aboriginal heritage and Aboriginal land matters
- Department of Planning
- Department of Lands
- State Heritage Office
Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions
- Department of Parks and Wildlife
- Botanical Gardens and Parks Authority
- Zoological Parks Authority
- Rottnest Island Authority
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
- Department of Local Government and Communities (local government functions)
- Department of Culture and the Arts
- Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor
- Department of Sport and Recreation
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
- Department of Water
- Department of Environment Regulation
- Office of the Environmental Protection Agency
Western Australia Police
- Western Australia Police
- Road Safety Commission (staff only, entity will remain)
Changes of duties
- Department of Finance
- Department of Premier and Cabinet
- Department of the Treasury
- Department of Training and Workforce Development
- Department of Transport
No Changes
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Department of Health
- Mental Health Commission
- Office of the Auditor General
- Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services
- Public Sector Commission
- Western Australian Electoral Commission
- Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission
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