Chair's foreword

Policy and program design and implementation is an area that requires continuous improvement. The Delivering Great Policy model was introduced by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) in 2019 to equip Government decision-makers with core elements and agreed principles to make the best possible policy decisions. This model outlines four key components of policy advice—clear on intent, well-informed, practical to implement, and influential.

Achieving sound and effective policies and programs using this model is supported through oversight by PM&C and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), as well as the development of training and resources to align public sector entities. There is an expectation that entities will adopt these practices, but this is not always the case and issues arise that can create lasting effects when best practice is not adhered to.

The reports of the Auditor-General that were examined in this inquiry highlighted specific recurring issues that impact the effectiveness of government policy and program design and implementation. These included inadequate stakeholder engagement, a lack of effective performance measures, and deficiencies in the advice to government.

Overall, the inquiry found that ineffective decision-making and a departure from best practice resulted in some common issues across the audits examined by the Committee, even though they involved very different programs. These policy and program areas included the Export Control Legislative Framework, expansion of Telehealth Services, Family Migration Program, cultural reform at the Department of Agriculture, the Government response to the Black Economy Taskforce, and access and participation programs for regional and remote students.

The Delivering Great Policy model outlines the need for policymakers to be well-informed and for entities to actively conduct stakeholder consultation. Although some of the audited agencies in this inquiry undertook these discussions widely and diligently, others only did so at an executive level and thus excluded the views of some of the most impacted parties from consideration.

On several occasions throughout this inquiry, examples were provided to the Committee of poor information management, a lack of coordination between agencies, inadequate communication to stakeholders, and a lack of support resulting in ineffective implementation and the need for additional resources to correct the problem.

The Committee learned of three occurrences where critical deficiencies in the advice to government created additional strain in the delivery of the relevant program and policies. The Expansion of Telehealth Services by the Department of Health and Aged Care during COVID-19 yielded some valuable lessons for providing such advice if a global pandemic was to arise again in the future. The inquiry revealed that deficient advice by the Department of Home Affairs relating to the Family Migration Program and by the Treasury in its Implementation of the Black Economy Taskforce negatively impacted public trust in the effectiveness and transparency of government.

Performance reporting and impact measurement are also fundamental components of effective policy and program design and implementation as they provide evidence-based data that enable adjustments and improvements by policymakers and that can ultimately determine whether the intended outcomes have been achieved. A lack of importance placed on these activities was found in three audit reports in this inquiry to have caused avoidable delays and inefficiencies which were wasteful of resources and time. Crucial information to assist with decision-making and future planning was also therefore lacking.

The agencies involved in this inquiry provided substantial responses to their audit findings, as well as assisted the Committee’s investigation on the core practices that required future improvement. The Committee noted that there was still work to be done in relation to several of the programs resulting from the findings of the Auditor-General reports.

The Committee has made 11 recommendations in this report. These include requests for progress updates from Home Affairs on its stakeholder engagement planning, Agriculture on its Transformation Action Plan, Health on legislative changes to allow digital assignment of benefit for the MBS, Treasury on strengthening its information management processes, and Education on its Performance and Data Framework Plan and Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

The Committee has also recommended that the Australian Government prioritises legislation to align the Health Insurance Act with the modern technological requirements of telehealth and makes further reforms to make the partner and child family visa programs truly demand driven.

This inquiry has highlighted that Commonwealth entities must remain vigilant in ensuring that they continue to meet best practice requirements when designing and implementing policies and programs for the benefit of the Australian public.

I thank the Deputy Chair and other Committee members who participated in this important inquiry. I also thank the numerous contributors to the inquiry and the Committee Secretariat for their professionalism in supporting the work of the Committee.

Hon Linda Burney MP

Chair