Colin James

Reforming the Public Sector and Parliament ’

‘ho-hums’. He will need to carry with him Goals his colleagues – and a public service last extensively renovated three decades back. Back in the late 1990s senior public servants worried at A core aim for Hipkins is a new Public Service Act to replace the 1988 State Sector Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) roundtables that ‘siloisation’ Act which is administered by the State Services Commission (SSC). The SSC of the state sector was hampering effectiveness. Also at that began work last year on revising the State time an IPS roundtable of chief and deputy chief executives Sector Act. Hipkins sees the SSC as itching for reform but probably more incremental backed posting advice on agency websites when decisions than he wants. were made or at some specific time after delivery. Note the word ‘public’. Hipkins shares commentators’ and some officials’ Two decades on a new Minister of State At 39, State Services Minister Chris concerns that public servants have for a Services is puzzling how to break down those Hipkins has abundant energy. He needs couple of decades focused too tightly on silo barriers and is proposing, among a raft of that to manage a heavy workload: serving their ministers and too little on changes for the public sector and Parliament, education (a critical portfolio given the also keeping in mind, and thus serving, the that policy advice be posted on websites. changing nature of work), ministerial wider and future interests and needs of the Ho hum, another new-government services and leader of the House (in public. shiny paint job, then back to business-as- Parliament) beside state services. In Hipkins’ book that requires advice usual when political and management Hipkins needs also abundant to be ‘contestable’ – the best advice officials “reality” cuts in? Or actual renovation? determination if he is to wrong-foot the can assemble on the evidence, not what Colin James is a political journalist and a Senior Associate of the Institute for Governance and Policy best matches, or second-guesses, ministers’ Studies at Victoria University of . He can be contacted via [email protected] preferences.

Policy Quarterly – Volume 14, Issue 1 – February 2018 – Page 85 Reforming the Public Sector and Parliament – Chris Hipkins’ Goals

Hipkins uses the word ‘stewardship’, output, not a genuine outcome, which is the Chief Information Officer should sit which some senior public servants have what students do with the qualification. and if there should be a separate agency. been using in the past few years. Ministers This output-outcome disjunction was Greater connectedness has also come and go. Officials outlive multiple also debated in IPS roundtables in the late encouraged people to expect more access governments. 1990s. The Treasury’s CBAx test for new to government information, generally and Hipkins hopes his reform will inject funding and the evolving social investment through the Official Information Act more consistency into public sector approach have been searching for a (OIA). governance. For example, he is bothered pathway from simple targets to complex So, reflecting the conclusion of that that Crown entities, operating under outcomes. late-1990s IPS roundtable, Hipkins wants boards, have become ‘laws unto themselves’ The problem is such outcomes cross proactive release of officials’ advice (except on matters such as salaries. He wants them ‘silo’ boundaries. Managing funding, where there is sensitivity, such as under the same governance rules and ethos action and accountability is complex when commercial confidence or national as the rest of the public sector. two or more agencies are involved and may security). The posting would be either He wants greater public accountability have different priorities. when a cabinet decision is made or, if in for agencies’ actions, akin to that for fiscal To overcome this in the case of the case of advice not leading to a cabinet management under the Public Finance Act. children’s services, the National-led decision, when it is delivered to the Achieving fiscal targets can come at the government set up with minister. Those who now file OIA requests could thus be directed to search departmental Community Link centres provided a websites. That would, or at least could, save a lot of officials’ (expensive) time and single door for those needing help but reduce frustration. those in need are likely still to deal with Hipkins seems serious about this. Other ministers are backing it. (Should we several different people for different add: so far?) A related point Hipkins has been needs. arguing is for briefings to incoming ministers (BIM) to be released significantly before the election, so opposition parties expense of social, environmental and other powers to buy in services for the children can test their policies against officials’ outcomes if they are not tested as it serves, similarly to what the Accident thinking and evidence well in advance, as rigorously. Compensation Corporation does. Hipkins the Budget and the Pre-election Economic The Treasury has expressed concerns is cautiously positive about this as one way and Fiscal Updates do for fiscal rigour. A about the mechanisms for such wider to breach silo walls. number of the new government’s first-100- accountability to Finance Minister Grant The point for Hipkins is a single days policies have exhibited avoidable Robertson (though the Treasury’s adoption ‘facilitator’ of services for end-users. shortcomings. of “wellbeing economics”, to be incorporated Community Link centres provided a single The leaning toward more openness in the March investment statement, is door for those needing help but those in feeds into Hipkins’ aims for Parliament. contiguous with such wider accountability). need are likely still to deal with several Newly out of opposition, Hipkins is Hipkins acknowledges non-fiscal targets may different people for different needs. firm that there is a legitimate role for the need broader legislation and in any case This is relevant in Hipkins’ book opposition to scrutinise the government. ministers are wary of the Treasury having too because digital technology enhances access He argues that if information is more central a role. to government agencies’ services and raises readily available there would be less scope In fact, climate change emissions expectations that dealing with the agencies for vexatious written parliamentary targets are to be legislated. And the Child will be simple – citizen-centric, in Hipkins’ questions (and, he acknowledges, more Poverty Reduction Bill now before (and Chief Information Officer Colin risk for ministers). National MPs, still Parliament sets out ways to measure MacDonald’s) words. fuming at being ousted from government, poverty, requires governments to set Hipkins (and MacDonald) cite took this to an extreme late last year, targets and account for meeting those registration of a birth. That once involved tabling a deluge of such questions, many targets or not and amends the Public up to six or seven different departments. trivial or mindless. Finance Act to incorporate that. Now the registration automatically issues The questions were aimed more at Note the word ‘outcomes’. Hipkins is the child a tax number and health system annoying and distracting ministers than sceptical about the 2008-17 National-led number and other registrations. seeking real information for the public government’s Better Public Services Communications Minister Clare benefit. targets. For example, he says, increasing the Curran is due to decide soon where in this Hipkins also instituted a larger role in NCEA level II pass rate is in effect an more highly connected government sector parliamentary management for the

Page 86 – Policy Quarterly – Volume 14, Issue 1 – February 2018 opposition. National MP was Hipkins also aims for more and acting – symbolised by a pregnant made a Deputy Speaker instead of one of predictability in the way Parliament Prime Minister. Post-baby-boomers are the two Assistant Speakers, the previous organises its business, so it is better planned not locked into 1980s market-liberal custom. He has also given National the and less ad hoc. He aims to put Parliament economics or new public management. same five chairs and five deputy chairs of into urgency only if the business is really That is some cause for public servants the 12 policy-focused select committees as urgent. (and commentators) to taihoa the ‘ho- Labour has. (The Greens and How far will Hipkins get down a reform hum’. Hipkins might get some way down First each have one chair and one deputy.) track his predecessors either shuffled on or his track. For smart, forward-looking post- He argues this will make Parliament stalled? Will the shine wear off in a year or baby-boomer public servants, that might more efficient. He also wanted smaller two and the public service revert to being spell opportunity. select committees, but National a state sector, focused tightly on ministers? outmanoeuvred him on Parliament’s first The answer may lie in Hipkins’ youth day after the change of government. This and the fact that post-baby-boomers has had the unfortunate result of requiring command a number of the key portfolios ministers to sit on committees to make up such as Hipkins’ three and health, social the numbers which is constitutionally development, and finance. Post-baby- questionable. boomers have different ways of thinking

Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice Practice

From modest beginnings, restorative justice has grown into one of the most important fields of justice reform in the world. Restorative approaches have also emerged in many other areas of life, including schools, workplaces, community organisations and businesses. Deepen your knowledge of this global social movement and develop your professional and practitioner skills

The Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice Practice is an course content may be delivered through conferences, seminars academically robust qualification for restorative practitioners and or workshops. professionals working in any related field. It comprises of four For those outside of Wellington, enrolled students may participate 15-point courses: in lectures in real time through an online platform. • RESJ 301 Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Restorative Justice Practice Course Coordinators • RESJ 302 Critical Issues in Restorative Practice • Professor Chris Marshall BA(Hons), BD, MA, PhD. • Dr Thomas Noakes-Duncan B.Theol (Hons), PhD • RESJ 303 Restorative Approaches in Context • RESJ 304 Directed Individual Study Contact Classes are timetabled on weekday evenings to suit part-time study For more information on the Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice and attendance at class is expected. From time to time, some Practice, email [email protected] or phone +64-4-463 6599.

[email protected] | www.victoria.ac.nz/sog/researchcentres/chair-in-restorative-justice

Policy Quarterly – Volume 14, Issue 1 – February 2018 – Page 87