House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Question Time Office for the Public Sector Office for the Public Sector The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly Colton Office for the Public Sector The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:49): My question is to the Minister for the Public Sector. Can the minister inform the house about progress in establishing the Office for the Public Sector and its role in supporting a modern public service? The Hon. S.E. CLOSE House of Assembly Port Adelaide Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation Minister for Automotive Transformation Minister for the Public Sector Office for the Public Sector The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for the Public Sector) (14:49): Thank you for the question. As members would be aware, on 1 July 2014 the government consolidated three public sector agencies into the Office for the Public Sector. The establishment of the new office was a result of a clear need for an integrated, coherent central agency. This process saw the functions performed by the Office for Public Renewal, Office for Public Employment and Review, and Public Sector Workforce Relations amalgamated into a new entity. The new office has had a number of successes, including: through the Jobs4Youth program, 188 trainees have been appointed: 54 of those are Aboriginal, 54 long-term unemployed and six declared with disabilities; working on a streamlined compliance system that does not bury plumbers, electricians and gasfitters in red tape; and assisting local communities to better use school facilities by making them available outside teaching hours. During the remainder of this financial year, the office will partner with government departments to: continue the program of 90-day projects; build a centre of excellence in leadership development; implement a charter of service excellence, including complaints management that meets Australian standards; and oversee the implementation of the Simplify strategy to reduce red tape. A leader of substance and ability was required to lead this new office, and that is why I am delighted that Erma Ranieri has been awarded the South Australian Businesswoman of the Year by Telstra. This is a powerful validation of her appointment as the first chief executive of the Office for the Public Sector. I will not dwell on this news, as it has been canvassed in The Advertiser today and I am informed was even trending on Twitter, but it is great to see Ms Ranieri's work recognised in this way. I am sure that all members here will join me in congratulating Ms Ranieri and wish her well in the national awards, to be conducted later this year.