The federal public service minister has put the sector on warning about capability reviews. 

The minister for finance and the public service, Katy Gallagher, explicitly stressed that a stronger and more capable APS is not just about resourcing but also about capability this week. 

She said the bureaucracy needs to improve its capacity to “do its job well” as part of the government’s plan to cut reliance on consultants and contractors.

Senator Gallagher said capability reviews will be piloted at a select number of agencies and carried out in an independent and transparent way, alongside flexible work reforms to “modernise” the way public servants do their jobs.

“They will be forward-looking, identifying what capability is needed for emerging work and challenges,” the minister said.

“Understanding the APS capability, knowing our strengths and weaknesses, and being transparent about how we can do better, is fundamental to building a stronger APS that is committed to improving the lives of Australians.”

Senator Gallagher said the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) would work to align evaluation functions with service delivery.

“Evaluation is also a clear priority for the government, as it assesses if the policies and programs deliver what is intended,” she said. 

“The government will work to align evaluation functions and build capability to support better outcomes for Australians and better quality government spending.”