UN Award for Australian Public Service

On 23 June 2004 the Public Service Commissioner Andrew Podger, on behalf of the Australian Public Service, accepted the United Nations Award for Improvement of the Quality of the Public Service Process in the Asia Pacific region.

The award recognises the APS’s outstanding achievement in serving the public interest and recognises its significant contribution to the improvement of public administration in Australia.

In particular, the award recognises Australia’s recent period of intensive public sector reform culminating in the passage of the Public Service Act 1999. Most notably, it recognises the devolution of authority brought about by previous financial and personnel management reforms and the way in which these reforms provide the flexibility and agility needed for a strongly performing public service, while also providing stronger accountability, continued professionalism, enhanced capability and responsiveness to Government.

The award recognises the role of the Australian Public Service Commission in helping agencies exploit the flexibilities provided under the PS Act, while maintaining their integrity as part of the professional APS and building their capability for the future. It also acknowledges the significance of the Commission’s quality assurance role in reporting annually to the Parliament through an independent assessment of the state of the Service and the extent to which agencies are upholding the APS Values.

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