Drinks with Jeff Floyd AM

At our recent event Rethinking the Victorian public sector – the urgent need for change, Jeff Floyd AM provided an overview of the key aspects of his book, “Rethinking the Victorian Public Sector A blueprint for change”, which argues for a streamlining the sector with the remaining service delivery services currently part of the Victorian Public Service, such as child protection, emergency management, fire and financial services etc, being transferred to new or existing Victorian Public Entities. Victorian Public Entities currently deliver the bulk of Victorian Government services. Nearly all of these public entities are overseen by a board of directors accountable to Government via the Secretary of the applicable Public Service Department. 

Jeff’s proposed change would ensure consistent and high standards of governance apply across all publicly delivered Victorian Government funded services, based upon the existing requirements of the Public Administration Act, the Financial Management Act, the Code of Conduct for Directors of Victorian Public Entities, and the like.

This would mean public service departments would focus only on the provision of core functions such as strategic and policy advice to government, grant administration and oversight of public entities. Jeff argued this would create greater efficiencies, transparency and accountability across Government. 

This was followed by a lively discussion on a range of matters related to promoting optimal public administration.