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RELATIONS WITH THE PARLIAMENT

This year’s agency survey asked agencies to report on the measures they had in place to ensure that SES employees understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to the Parliament.

Of the 81 agencies that reported having some or all of their SES staff appear before Parliamentary committees, only one reported having no measures in place to ensure that SES employees understand their rights and responsibilities; 81% reported having three or more measures in place.

The most common measures reported by agencies with SES employees appearing before committees were learning through attendance and observation (93% of relevant agencies), internal briefing of staff prior to attendance (88%) and self-nominating attendance at training courses or presentations (84%). Other measures included the use of simulation-type exercises (38%), mandatory training (31%) and written internal guidelines (30%).

The results indicate that the APS has shifted its focus slightly over the last three years. Figure 3.5 shows that following a drop last year APS agencies are again relying on mandatory and/or self-nominated formal training to ensure SES employees understand their accountability obligations to Parliament. Figure 3.5 also shows that simulation-type exercises have become increasingly popular over the last three years and are now used by more agencies than written guidelines.

Figure 3.5: Agency measures to ensure SES employees understand parliamentary accountability, 2001—02 to 2003—04

Source: Agency survey

Despite the slight improvement this year in the proportion of agencies using training as a means of equipping their SES staff, information on overall training attendance at courses on parliamentary accountability run by the Departments of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the APS Commission shows that attendance at training continues to decline. Table 3.4 shows the decline over the last four years in attendance at relevant training courses.

Table 3.4: Attendance at parliamentary accountability training, 2000—01 to 2003—04

Notes: Courses are generally open to APS and other Commonwealth employees. (a) The Public servants’ accountability, rights and responsibilities course run by the APS Commission is open to the SES and EL level employees and addresses rights and responsibilities as well as the procedures and expectations of parliamentary committee members. (b) The Preparing to appear before a parliamentary committee course run by the APS Commission is open to the SES and EL level employees. It builds upon the Public servants’ accountability, rights and responsibilities course. (c) The Parliament, privilege and accountability seminar run by the Department of the Senate is open to SES employees and focuses on the accountability of public servants to Parliament. (d) Senate Committees is a seminar run by the Department of the Senate and provides a detailed examination of the structure and operation of the Senate committee system and is aimed at those who may be required to write submissions for committees, appear as witnesses or monitor the progress of committee inquiries. NB: This seminar was not conducted in 2001—02. (e) About Committees is a seminar run by the Department of the House of Representatives and provides detailed information on all aspects of committee work, including types of committees and how they conduct their investigations.

Sources: (a) and (b) APS Commission; (c) and (d) The Department of the Senate; (e) Department of the House of Representatives.

The APS Commission in its ‘Orientation to the SES’ training course also deals with the accountability framework but not in as much depth as the ‘accountability, rights and responsibilities’ program. During 2003—04, a total of 110 participants attended the SES orientation course. Chapter 9 includes a discussion of leadership development more generally.

Data on appointments to the SES indicates that there is an ongoing need for training and other measures to ensure that SES employees (and particularly new SES employees) understand their rights and responsibilities in this area. APSED data shows that during 2003—04, 150 employees joined the SES (103 promoted from EL ranks and 47 from outside the APS) and that over the last three financial years, an average of 184 employees have joined the SES per year. These newly appointed SES employees should provide the main target group for such training, although there is undoubtedly a need for refresher courses and additional training for other SES employees from time to time.

The previous two State of the Service reports suggested that agencies have not been giving sufficient attention to training their SES staff on parliamentary accountability. Evidence outlined above confirms that this issue has still not been adequately addressed in 2003—04 and that the overall focus on training as a means of equipping employees is continuing to decline. While the increase in simulation-type exercises is pleasing and may counterbalance some of the effect of the decline in formal training (or act as a refresher/supplement), indications are that more agencies should be utilising formal training as a means of ensuring their SES employees understand their rights and responsibilities in this area.

It is clear that there is still room for improvement. A key aim of agencies should be to ensure that employees who are likely to be required to appear before committees are well equipped to respond in a manner that is consistent with their rights and responsibilities. An important element is to ensure that all new SES employees and relevant EL employees undertake relevant and adequate training.