Question Time

Consumer and Business Services, Workplace Culture

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector on the topic of departmental workplace culture.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The Consumer and Business Services Review Report 2025 was released on 4 May following an announcement in September of last year that the department would undergo a review into its workplace culture and leadership. Many respondents to the review of Consumer and Business Services, which is a division of the South Australian government's Attorney-General's Department, described the department as having a culture 'curated and based on personality, relationships, influence and informality, rather than one based on robust management practices and decision-making'.

When asked about intention to leave CBS, 80 per cent of respondents responded in the affirmative, citing three primary factors influencing their thinking: workload, leadership and workplace behaviours. There was also a theme throughout the review of unreasonable expectations held and demands made by some in the executive and senior management team. So my question to the Minister for Industrial Relations and the Public Sector is: how will the minister take responsibility for this toxic workplace culture?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:31): I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, as the minister having responsibility for the public sector, systemic issues across the public sector are always of concern. In relation to a particular area of the public sector, Consumer and Business Services employees are, of course, employees of the department overseen by my ministerial colleague the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, the member for Enfield, the Hon. Andrea Michaels, but, because I take a keen interest in many public sector matters, I am happy to provide some information for the honourable member.

On 30 September 2024, Ms Rosslyn Cox and the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment launched a review by way of presentation to Consumer and Business Services employees. Current employees and former employees who have left CBS (Consumer and Business Services) in the past two years were invited to participate in the review. The review achieved a participation rate of 61 per cent for current employees and 28 per cent for former employees. I am advised CBS employees had the opportunity to participate in a confidential survey designed to explore various elements of workplace experiences, including culture, communication, workload management and how individuals and teams work together.

CBS employees also had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with either Ms Cox or the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment. I am advised that in total, 85 individual meetings were held with CBS staff. I am advised that Ms Cox has now completed the independent review and I am further advised that she has provided a final report. I am advised this final report was provided to CBS staff on 2 May 2025, and it has also been placed on the Attorney-General's Department internet site.