Review of the Tasmanian State Service

An Independent Review of the Tasmanian State Service (the Review) was undertaken between 2019 and 2021.

The Tasmanian Government announced the Review in June 2019 to consider whether the State Service is fit for purpose for Tasmania today and into the future. The Review set out to identify structural, legislative and administrative improvements to transform current structures, services and practices to deliver a more efficient and effective public service. The scope of the Review was determined by the Terms of Reference which were subsequently amended in September 2020 and January 2021.

The Review commenced in November 2019, with Dr Ian Watt AC appointed as Independent Reviewer. Dr Watt has worked at the highest levels of the public service in Australia, including as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the head of the Australian Public Service.

The Independent Reviewer was supported by a governance structure that included a Secretariat and project team based in the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC), and advice from Heads of Agency and a Reference Group comprising representatives from the public and private sector, unions and the non-for profit sector.

More information is available on the Governance page.

The Review was informed by extensive consultation with Heads of Agency and other senior executives, ministerial staff, public sector employees, the community services sector, business and industry groups, peak bodies, Aboriginal representatives, unions, the education/tertiary sector and with members of the business community.

More information is available on the Consultation page.

Reports

The Final Report was provided to the Premier and Treasurer in July 2021 and released in September 2021, following the Interim Report released in November 2020.

The Final Report outlined 77 recommendations across a ‘Roadmap to Reform’ with five domains:

• principles and values
• leadership
• capability
• workforce
• service delivery

The Final Report is complemented by a Summary Report and a series of Fact Sheets relating to the Review’s five domains. The Reports page includes more information and links to all reports.

Progress Report on TSSR implementation

A progress Report on implementation and priorities, released in October 2024, shows that 15 recommendations are now complete, and another 20 recommendations are in progress.

Read the Tasmanian State Service Review progress update (Accessible Word, 76KB)

Government Response and Reform Implementation

The Tasmanian Government supports, or supports in-principle, all 77 recommendations of the Review. The Government Response to the Independent Review of the Tasmanian State Service was released in November 2021, outlining an ambitious reform program.

Reform implementation commenced in 2022, with the establishment of the Secretaries Board chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Implementation of Review recommendations is underway, with a focus on reform priorities that align to recommendations arising 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 has included:

• 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.

Contact Information

If you have any queries regarding the Tasmanian State Service Review, please contact the Corporate and Government Services Division:

Phone: (03) 6232 7230
Email: DeputySecretary.CGS@dpac.tas.gov.au