Output 3: Employment-related services and functions

Output 3 is drawn from the Public Service Commissioner’s statutory role under the PS Act 1999, including:

• SES employment matters (sections 36, 37 and 38)
• whistleblower reports (sections 41 and 16)
• alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct (section 41)
• advice and assistance in public service matters to agencies on request (section 41)
• reports to the Public Service Minister on any matter related to the APS (section 41).

To meet the requirements of Output 3, the Commission:

• oversees SES selection and retirements and implements administrative rearrangements resulting from Machinery of Government changes
• provides employment-related services (including in some circumstances on a fee-for-service basis) such as staff selection work, review of actions and investigation of reported breaches of the Code of Conduct (including whistleblowing disclosures) and career counselling
• produces the APS Gazette in electronic and paper form.

Significant achievements for the Commission in 2002–03 were:

• maintained fast turnaround of an average of one day for decisions on SES engagements
• a substantial increase in fee-for-service work.

Output 3 covers the employment-related services of the Public Service Commissioner and the Merit Protection Commissioner. The reporting in this section is primarily on the responsibilities of the Public Service Commissioner. A separate report by the Merit Protection Commissioner on his responsibilities is incorporated in Part 4 of this report.

The price and performance information for Output 3 covers the responsibilities of both Commissioners. Detailed explanation for the pricing information is given in the performance information tables at the end of this section.

Figure 12: Total price for Output 3