The New South Wales Government has released its long awaited Commission of Audit Final Report, outlying key ways to improve public sector management and service delivery in the State.

 

Its release comes after the State Government commissioned Dr Kerry Schott to produce the Commission of Auit last year in a bid to develop an improved framework for the future of the State’s public sector.

 

The final report touches on six key themes for future reform of the state’s public sector:

  • Devolution
  • Partnerships and outsourcing
  • Workforce flexibility
  • Transparent and evidence based decisions
  • Collaboration and coordination
  • Budget constraint

  

Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s CEO, Brendan Lyon, says the release of the final report highlights the case for the full privatisation of the state’s electricity sector.

 

“The Schott Review provides a clear remedy to fix the State’s ailing finances and restore capacity to deliver the infrastructure that’s needed,” Mr Lyon said.

 

“Funding infrastructure in the immediate term demands the sale of assets, and in the short, medium and longer term, it means cutting waste in the public sector so that the State is living within its means and using debt to fund new projects, not to pay wages.

 

“Dr Schott correctly identifies the sale of electricity assets as a key opportunity to invest in new infrastructure and bring down the cost of electricity for the State’s consumers and businesses.”

 

Mr Lyon said that the sale of the state’s electricity assets is crucial to keeping prices down, an issue which has entered the public limelight since Prime Minister Julia Gillard declared electricity bills to be ‘the new petrol prices’, faced by Australian households.

 

“But since privatisation, electricity prices in Victoria and South Australia have risen at half the rate of NSW, because private companies are competing for customers. Meanwhile, the continued monopoly public ownership in NSW has seen inefficient work practices and infrastructure investments jack up prices, vandalising the competitiveness of NSW businesses and squeezing low income household,” Mr Lyon said.