Govt outlines state sector shake-up
The Government's state sector shake-up is picking up pace with a proposal to axe a number of agencies and merge others.
The Government's state sector shake-up is picking up pace with a proposal to axe a number of agencies and merge others.
The proposals include disestablishing five Crown entities and three tribunals, merging two agencies, establishing shared services across three central agencies, and consolidating the services of others.
Announcing the proposals today, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said the changes had the potential to reduce the duplication of roles and back-office functions, and improve front-line services.
The proposals include:
- Incorporating the Charities Commission into the Department of Internal Affairs;
- Bringing forward the end date of the Mental Health Commission and instead setting up a Mental Health Commissioner in the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner;
- Disestablishing three tribunals -- the Health Act Boards of Appeal; the Maritime Appeal Authority; and the Land Valuation Tribunals -- and transferring their functions to district courts;
- Setting up an "arm's-length" health promotion agency to take over the relevant functions of the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC), the Health Sponsorship Council, and the Ministry of Health;
- Disestablishing the Crown Health Financing Agency and transferring its functions to the Ministry of Health and other relevant bodies.
Mr English said the Government was committed to getting better value for money from public spending.
"We have a wide-ranging programme of reform as we seek to improve frontline public services within tight financial constraints. Structural changes are only a small part of that programme and will go ahead only where they make sense," he said.
"In this case, we believe the proposed changes have the potential to reduce duplication of roles and back office functions and improve the cohesion of frontline services."
The Government has established a new group to advise on the reforms. Officials will report back by July, after which Cabinet will make final decisions.
NZPA and NBR staff
Tue, 31 May 2011
Tue, 31 May 2011
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Govt outlines state sector shake-up
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