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Scott Morrison to slash number of government departments in public service overhaul – politics live Scott Morrison to slash number of government departments in public service overhaul – politics live
(31 minutes later)
Prime minister says cutting government departments from 18 to 14 will lead to greater efficiency. All the day’s political news, livePrime minister says cutting government departments from 18 to 14 will lead to greater efficiency. All the day’s political news, live
Interesting point on the machinery of government changes from Markus Mannheim.
Stephen Jones, the shadow assistant treasurer, is on Sky News saying Morrison should accept the New Zealand deal to get children off Manus Island and Nauru. He rejects the government’s insistence that there are no more kids there.
Jones urged Morrison to be “pragmatic” and take the NZ deal.
The PM announcing an overhaul of the public service, courtesy of Mike Bowers.The PM announcing an overhaul of the public service, courtesy of Mike Bowers.
The PM’s office has just released a more detailed list of those changes. They will take effect from February. Here’s the full list:The PM’s office has just released a more detailed list of those changes. They will take effect from February. Here’s the full list:
The creation of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, which will consolidateThe creation of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, which will consolidate
the current Department of Education; andthe current Department of Education; and
the current Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.the current Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.
The creation of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, which will consolidate:The creation of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, which will consolidate:
the current Department of Agriculture; andthe current Department of Agriculture; and
environment functions from the current Department of the Environment and Energy.environment functions from the current Department of the Environment and Energy.
The creation of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, which will consolidate:The creation of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, which will consolidate:
the current Department of Industry, Innovation and Science;the current Department of Industry, Innovation and Science;
energy functions from the current Department of the Environment and Energy; andenergy functions from the current Department of the Environment and Energy; and
small business functions from the current Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.small business functions from the current Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.
The creation of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, which will consolidate:The creation of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, which will consolidate:
the current Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development; andthe current Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development; and
the current Department of Communications and the Arts.the current Department of Communications and the Arts.
The Department known as Services Australia (formerly known as the Department of Human Services) will be established as a new Executive Agency, within the Social Services Department.The Department known as Services Australia (formerly known as the Department of Human Services) will be established as a new Executive Agency, within the Social Services Department.
Just to recap on those machinery of government changes:Just to recap on those machinery of government changes:
the education and employment departments are being mergedthe education and employment departments are being merged
the agriculture department is combining with the environment departmentthe agriculture department is combining with the environment department
energy will be merged with the industry, innovation and science departmentenergy will be merged with the industry, innovation and science department
The communications and arts portfolio is being merged with infrastructure and transport departmentThe communications and arts portfolio is being merged with infrastructure and transport department
A few interesting tidbits there. Energy is being decoupled from environment.A few interesting tidbits there. Energy is being decoupled from environment.
But emissions reduction stays with energy.But emissions reduction stays with energy.
Just to reiterate, the PM is proposing no costs savings and no job losses, aside from the five departmental secretaries.Just to reiterate, the PM is proposing no costs savings and no job losses, aside from the five departmental secretaries.
Morrison is asked whether the government will consider New Zealand’s offer to take refugees from Manus and Nauru.Morrison is asked whether the government will consider New Zealand’s offer to take refugees from Manus and Nauru.
Scott Morrison says he has full confidence in Angus Taylor.Scott Morrison says he has full confidence in Angus Taylor.
Morrison says this is not a “savings measure”.Morrison says this is not a “savings measure”.
Morrison says there will be no change to ministerial portfolios.Morrison says there will be no change to ministerial portfolios.
Morrison announces we’re losing five departmental secretaries as part of the shake-up.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, is speaking to the media. He’s speaking about changes to the public service. The Australian reported this morning that he was “poised to put an axe through the public service today with plans to dramatically cut the number of government departments with another round of mandarins set for the chopping block”.
Morrison announces he will reduce the number of government departments from 18 to 14. He says the APS will need to provide services more “efficiently and effectively”.
This sounds very much like a standard machinery of government change. Departments being renamed and subsumed into others. You know, the type we do every few years for some reason.
Every time this happens, I can only think of all the corporate merchandise that’s suddenly become redundant due to departmental name changes. I’m weird, I know. But what do they do with it all? So many spare pens. We could use them over here at the Guardian, just FYI, if departments are feeling charitable.
So far he’s named changes to the education, agriculture, environment and industry portfolios. We’ll have a full list of changes shortly.
Morrison says he wants a public service that “is very much focused on implementation”.
Mick Keelty, the inspector general of the Murray-Darling basin water resources, spoke to ABC radio a little earlier about just what the government has asked him to do. Keelty was tasked with a review of water sharing arrangement amid damaging protests for the Nationals in Canberra this week.
He’s asked precisely what he’s actually going to do:
Keelty is asked how the protesters, previously furious at Littleproud and the Nationals, came away feeling comfortable with the result. He said the protesters were not promised any additional water as a result of the review.
The prime minister has just called a press conference for 10.30am. Stick with us.
On the Murray Darling, Nationals MP Damian Drum is saying the water-sharing agreements between the states are outdated. He hopes the review by Mick Keelty, the Murray-Darling inspector general, will improve them.
Drum was out the front of parliament with Barnaby Joyce a little earlier this week, copping an earful from farmers. He says:
Greens senator Nick McKim urges the prime minister, Scott Morrison, to pick up the phone and talk to Jacinda Ardern for the “sake of humanity”.
Ardern is asked whether New Zealand would consider preventing asylum seekers who go to NZ on resettlement would be prevented from later coming to Australia. She says:
During the interview, Ardern mentions multiple times the deportation of New Zealand citizens from Australia, an issue that has caused much angst across the Tasman. Ardern is asked whether she would want something in return for accepting refugees. She says:
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has spoken to Sky News. She said NZ’s offer was still on the table.
She says Australia has not approached NZ about the deal recently.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve spent a fair chunk of my morning watching and rewatching that Wolf call.
On to other things. Adam Bandt is planning to move to suspend standing orders in the lower house. He wants the house to note that the medevac repeal deal was done in secret.