PUBLIC SECTOR EXECUTIVES

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for the Public Sector. Can the minister inform the house what the government is doing to ensure a high performing executive service?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Sector) (15:04): I thank the member for Reynell for the question. The government is progressively developing a system designed to manage public sector professionalism for high performance. The strategy to achieve this was outlined in the Public Sector Performance Commission report to government in November 2010. This report acknowledged the need for:

...a dramatically strengthened induction, professional development and leadership program for the South Australian Executive Service.

A Leadership Capability Program has been designed in recognition of this requirement and to develop the government's South Australian Public Service executives, ensuring that they operate at a world-class level of performance.

To meet the increasingly complex challenges that public sector executives are facing in the current climate, the concept is to work to a system of management proven from reliable research to create high performance. The SAES induction program has been established to provide new SAES executives with the knowledge, tools, networks and mindset necessary to succeed as public sector leaders both now and into the future.

The program is based on a set of characteristics detailed in the high-performance framework and introduces new executives to a high-performance management system that integrates setting direction with developing capability and the ability to evaluate, monitor and to ensure assurance of outcome. The SAES induction program is held over four days and is aimed at new executives and those with less than 24 months' experience.

The government has held four programs per year since it commenced in 2009. A total of 105 SAES executives have attended the program and each program receives around 60 nominations. To ensure best value for each attendee, a maximum of 30 attendees are accepted at each. As of this year, the program is being run biannually to keep up with demand. I think this is indicative of an increasing professionalism at the senior levels of the South Australian Public Service.

The program is fortunate to attract high-profile guest speakers from the Australian government, state government and the Australian and New Zealand School of Government. Guest speakers have covered topics such as cabinet priorities, government strategy, policy direction for the state and skills required to be a successful SAES member.

Past guest speakers have included Warren McCann; Jim Hallion; Bruce Carter, former chair of the Economic Development Board; Dr Rachel Bacon, First Assistant Secretary of the Implementation Committee, Prime Minister and Cabinet; Kerry Colbung, former chairperson of the Premier's Aboriginal Advisory Council; Bill Cossey, Chair of the Audit Committee of the South Australian Strategic Plan; and Professor Mark Evans, Director, ANZSOG Institute for Governance.

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!