Machinery of government
 | The examples and perspective in this articledeal primarily with Australia and do not represent aworldwide viewof the subject.(February 2023) |
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Themachinery of government(sometimes abbreviated asMoG) is the interconnected structures and processes ofgovernment,such as the functions and accountability ofdepartmentsin theexecutivebranch of government. The term is used particularly in the context of changes to established systems ofpublic administrationwhere different elements of machinery[1]are created.
The phrase 'machinery of government' was thought to have been first used by authorJohn Stuart MillinConsiderations on Representative Government(1861).[2]It was notably used to a public audience by US PresidentFranklin D. Rooseveltin a radio broadcast in 1934,[3]commenting on the role of theNational Recovery Administration(NRA) in delivering theNew Deal.A number of national governments, including those ofAustralia,Canada,South Africa,and theUnited Kingdom,have adopted the term in official usage.
Australia
[edit]In Australia, the terms 'machinery of government changes' and 'administrative re-arrangements' are interchangeable and are used to refer to the changes to the structure of government and the allocation of government functions between departments and ministers.[4]
Machinery of government changes may occur at any time, however the most significant changes generally occur immediately following an election.[5]There is usually very little consultation or discussion prior to machinery of government changes in Australia, especially those following elections.[6]
TheCommonwealth Governmentand some state and territory governments useAdministrative Arrangements Orders(also called AAOs) as legal instruments as a primary method to make machinery of government changes.
Australian Government Administrative Arrangements Orders
[edit]At the Commonwealth Government level, Administrative Arrangements Orders (AAOs) are made by theGovernor-Generalon the advice of thePrime Ministerformally allocating executive responsibility among ministers. AAOs establishDepartments of Stateunder theConstitution,including the principal matters and legislation dealt with by each department and its minister(s).[7]The AAO is generally only updated when functions move between departments, ordering machinery of government changes.[7]Since 1901, there have been over 170 AAOs ordered by the Governor-General.[8]Only one AAO remains active at any one time; when a new AAO is made, all previous AAOs are revoked.[9]Administrative Arrangement Orders are generally published in theCommonwealth Gazette.[10]
Administrative Arrangements Orders are seen by some academics as a central platform of good government management as the orders set the basic structure of cabinet, ministerial responsibilities, portfolios, and departments.[11]
Implementation costs
[edit]When an Administrative Arrangements Order orders departments to be split, cut, or combined, the costs involved in public service machinery of government may include:
- renaming departments, redesigning websites, and changing signs;[12]
- transferring staff, furniture, equipment, leases, and files between departments;[12]
- transferring or merging IT services;[12]and
- cutting staff, particularly in senior ranks.[13]Total costs associated with issuing new Administrative Arrangements Orders are unknown, as the costs involved with machinery of government changes are not collated or reported,[12][14]but in November 2013, the Secretary of theDepartment of Immigration and Border Protectiontold a Senate estimates hearing that the cost of the department's name change was cheap at 'only' an estimated$195,000.[15]
State and territory government machinery of government mechanisms
[edit]Australian Capital Territory
[edit]According toKPMG,in theAustralian Capital Territory(ACT), theChief Minister of the ACTis given full power to allocate executive power to ministers and to establish government 'administrative units'.[16]
New South Wales
[edit]According toKPMG,inNew South Wales(NSW) government structure is established under section 104 of thePublic Sector Employment and Management Act 2002.[16]The Act gives theGovernor of New South Walesthe power to create, rename or abolish any NSW Government department through the issue of an executive order, acting on the advice of the elected government.[16]
Northern Territory
[edit]In theNorthern Territory(NT), according to KPMG, the Administrator of the Northern Territory determines government structural arrangements, acting on the advice of the government of the day.[16]
Queensland
[edit]InQueensland(Qld), thePremierhas sole responsibility for determining ministerial portfolios.[17]On the Premier's advice, theGovernor of Queenslandsets out the responsibilities of ministers and their portfolios in AAOs.[17]AAOs are re-issued or amended when government structural changes take place.[17]
The biggest machinery of government changes in Queensland's history were in December 1989, under the Labor Government headed byWayne Goss.[18]Machinery of government changes made in March 2009 were also significant, collapsing 23 stand-alone government departments into 13.[18]
South Australia
[edit]According to KPMG, inSouth AustraliatheGovernormay establish, alter and abolish government departments under powers provided in section 26 of thePublic Service Act 2009.[16]
Tasmania
[edit]InTasmania,administrative arrangements are set out in Administrative Arrangements Orders[19]The orders cover which Minister is responsible for the administration of legislation.[20]
Victoria
[edit]InVictoria(Vic), government structure is set by an Order in Council made under section 10 of thePublic Administration Act 2004.[16][21]The Act gives theGovernor of Victoriathe power to create departments and allocate functions.[16]Staff and work units can also be transferred between departments by declaration of the relevant Minister.[21]
Western Australia
[edit]According to KPMG, under section 35(1) of theWestern AustralianPublic Sector Management Act 1994,theGovernor of Western Australiamay establish, amalgamate or abolish government departments on the recommendation of the Public Service Commissioner.[16]Section 35(4) of the same Act provides that the Minister responsible for public service matters may direct the Public Service Commissioner to make recommendations the Governor and the Commissioner must comply with that recommendation.[16][22]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^For example, a Number 10 Press Notice on 5 May 2006 was entitledMachinery of Government changesin announcing the creation of a new department of the British Government, accessed at"Number 10 press notices".www.Number10.gov.uk.10 Downing Street.Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2003.Retrieved12 June2006.12 June 2006
- ^Stuart Mill, J.S. (1861) Considerations on Representative Government, Chapter V; editions include Kessinger,ISBN0-7661-8898-1;text accessed atUniversity of Texas at Austin[1]12 June 2006
- ^Roosevelt, F.D.Fireside Chatbroadcast 30 September 1934 accessed at Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center[2]Archived11 June 2017 at theWayback Machine12 June 2006
- ^"Chapter 1: Machinery of Government Process".Implementing machinery of government changes.Australian Public Service Commission.September 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - ^"Archive: Implementing Machinery of Government Changes".www.APSC.gov.au.Australian Public Service Commission.Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2013.Retrieved25 September2013.
- ^Nethercote, John (29 June 1999)."Departmental Machinery of Government Since 1987: Research paper No. 24 1998-99"(PDF).www.APH.gov.au.Department of the Parliamentary Library.
- ^ab"Explore the law: an A-Z of key jargon and sources".ComLaw. Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^"Administrative Arrangements Orders".www.NAA.gov.au.National Archives of Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 9 April 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^"Administrative Arrangements Order - 16 May 2013".ComLaw. 17 May 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^"Glossary".www.NAA.gov.au.National Archives of Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 14 August 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^Podger, Andrew (2 July 2013)."A wish-list for better government".The Canberra Times.Fairfax Media.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^abcdMannheim, Markus (18 September 2013)."High price of churn".The Sydney Morning Herald.Fairfax Media.Archived fromthe originalon 5 November 2013.Retrieved23 September2013.
- ^Griffiths, Emma (19 September 2013)."Tony Abbott sworn in as Australia's 28th Prime Minister".www.ABC.net.au.ABC News.Archived fromthe originalon 27 March 2014.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^"How to navigate Machinery of Government changes".www.NAA.gov.au(Press release).National Archives of Australia.9 August 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 4 July 2014.Retrieved25 September2013.
- ^Aston, Heath (20 November 2013)."Department's new name to cost $200,000".The Canberra Times.Fairfax Media.Archived fromthe originalon 7 March 2014.
- ^abcdefghi"Machinery of Government"(PDF).www.KPMG.com/AU.KPMG.April 2012.Archived(PDF)from the original on 28 September 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^abc"Changes to our structure".www.Qld.gov.au.Queensland Government.27 June 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 12 May 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^abMacDonald, Robert (16 January 2012)."A mog's life with fickle masters".The Courier Mail.News Ltd.
- ^"Administrative Arrangements for Tasmanian Enactments".www.DPAC.Tas.gov.au.27 February 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 21 September 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^"Tasmanian Legislation: Administrative Arrangements [Statutory Rule 23/2006 (amend 40/2006)]".www.Parliament.Tas.gov.au.Tasmanian Parliamentary Library.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^ab"Machinery of Government".www.DPC.Vic.gov.au.Victorian Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 24 April 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 28 April 2013.Retrieved24 September2013.
- ^"Appendix G - Machinery of government changes".www.PublicSector.WA.gov.au.Government of Western Australia Public Sector Commission. 10 December 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 25 June 2014.
Further reading
[edit]- "Making and breaking Whitehall departments: a guide to Machinery of Government changes"(PDF).www.InstituteForGovernment.org.uk.London,England:Institute for Government.May 2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 July 2010.Retrieved13 May2010.
- Nethercote, John (1999)."Departmental Machinery of Government since 1987: Research Paper 24 1998-99".www.APH.gov.au.Parliamentary Library, Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 11 August 2007.Retrieved12 June2006.
- "Machinery of Government reform: principles and practice in the organisation of central government departments: a history 1964-1992".www.Nuff.Ox.ac.uk.University of Oxford:ESRC Whitehall programme atNuffield College.Archived fromthe originalon 17 April 2012.Retrieved12 June2006.
- "Constitutional, legal and Government framework: Machinery of Government changes".www.APSC.gov.au.Australian Public Service Commission.March 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 5 June 2009.
- "Information Sheet 4.6 - Machinery of Government"(PDF).www.Treasury.Qld.gov.au.Queensland Government Treasury.November 2012.Retrieved25 September2013.
