Review of the State Service

Ensuring the Tasmanian State Service is fit for purpose

An Independent Review of the Tasmanian State Service was completed between 2019 and 2021, led by Dr Ian Watt AC as the independent reviewer. The review identified structural, legislative and administrative improvements to the Tasmanian State Service.

Dr Watt was supported by a governance structure. This included a secretariat and project team in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, advice from Tasmanian Government Heads of Agency and advice from a reference group comprising representatives from the public and private sector, unions and the non-for-profit sector.

The scope of the review was determined in the terms of reference (PDF 294.8KB).

Two phases of consultation were carried out as part of the review. The first phase opened in February 2020, however was paused in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It re-opened in September 2020 and closed in October 2020, asking for responses to the review's consultation paper (PDF 268.8KB). A consultation tool was used during the second phase of the consultation, which ran from December 2020 to February 2021.

The review was informed by consultation with Heads of Agency and senior executives, ministerial staff, State Service employees, the community services sector, business and industry groups, peak bodies, Aboriginal representatives, unions, the education sector and with members of the business community.

Reports from the review

An interim report was provided to the Premier and Treasurer and released in November 2020. The interim report made 13 recommendations.

The final report was provided to the Premier and Treasurer in July 2021 and released in September 2021. The final report outlines 77 recommendations across a roadmap to reform with five themes:

1. principles and values
2. leadership
3. capability
4. workforce
5. service delivery.

The final report is complemented by a summary and fact sheets relating to the review’s five themes.

Tasmanian Government response

The Tasmanian Government responded to the independent review in November 2021. The Tasmanian Government supports, or supports in-principle, all 77 recommendations and outlined an ambitious reform program.

Progress on implementation

Implementation of the Tasmanian Government's reform program began in 2022, with the establishment of the Secretaries Board chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The current focus is on reform priorities that align to the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings and other initiatives to keep children safe.

Progress includes:

• Building shared capability for serious code of conduct investigations.
• Making changes to the State Service employment framework, including revising Employment Directions.
• Coordinating and monitoring implementation of recommendations across the State Service.
• Updating performance agreements for all heads of agency.
• Establishing the Secretaries Board and renewed cross-agency collaborative governance.
• Developing a life events framework for service delivery.