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Tuesday, 2 April 2019

SENATOR THE HON. MATHIAS CORMANN Minister for Finance and the Public Service Leader of the Government in the Senate

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO THE PGPA ACT AND RULE

Reflecting the Government's strong commitment to driving improved accountability, governance practice, efficiency and productivity in the public sector, the Government accepts, in principle, the 48 out of 52 recommendations of the Independent Review into the operation of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and Rule that are within its area of responsibility. The three remaining recommendations are directed at the Parliament, the Senate and the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit and one recommendation is of shared responsibility of the Government and the Parliament. The Government encourages sympathetic consideration of these recommendations.

Noting the broad reach of the Review's recommendations, the Government will undertake implementation in consultation with all relevant parties, in particular the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, which has had a significant role in the development of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, the Rule and the Independent Review.

Timely implementation of the Review's recommendations will further improve governance practice and accountability in the Commonwealth sector.

I would like to thank Ms Elizabeth Alexander and Mr David Thodey for undertaking the Review, for the valuable insights they have provided and the recommendations that they have made.

[ENDS]

Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Perth