The Assistant Minister for the Public Service says the APS must build a culture of collaboration.

Assistant Minister Patrick Gorman has addressed the Western Australian Australian Government Leadership Network, focusing on the Australian Public Service's (APS) need for greater collaboration. 

Gorman’s speech, posted here, emphasises the necessity of a collaborative culture within the APS to address contemporary challenges.

Gorman acknowledged the historical lack of collaboration within the APS, saying: “Reaching out. Welcoming others in. Collaborating. Achieving. This has not always been the image of the modern Australian Public Service”."

Gorman highlighted the slow progress towards gender equality within the APS, noting that it took 72 years for women to attain formal leadership roles, and only last year did the APS achieve gender parity in the Senior Executive Service. 

“The Australian people had elected women to Parliament in 1943. It took the APS and the government of the day another 30 years to catch up,” he said. 

However, Gorman also says that the culture is changing, and emphasised the importance of diverse perspectives for effective public policy.

Reflecting on the Robodebt scandal, Gorman pointed out that frontline workers often possess the best insights for policy improvement. 

He highlighted the necessity of today's gathering to seek advice and solutions from various sectors to meet current and future challenges. 

He also detailed the policy challenges facing Australia, including the economic transformation driven by Net Zero, strategic circumstances reminiscent of the Second World War, and the digital revolution's tipping points. 

He said research institutions, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors can be called on to solve common problems and deliver impactful results.

“An APS that talks to subject matter experts in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors about their ideas. So that together we solve common problems and deliver more impact for more Australians,” Gorman said. 

Gorman also reiterated the government's commitment to the APS Reform agenda, prioritising the people and businesses at the centre of policy design and delivery. 

He said that this shift from old norms would result in stronger policies that reflect community needs and build trust in democratic institutions.

The government has released the Charter of Partnerships and Engagements, setting out principles for the APS to engage openly, responsively, transparently, accountably, informedly, and collaboratively.