The Public Service Amendment Bill was introduced in July 2025. It proposes to (among other things):

• Change the purpose section of the Act to remove references to supporting future governments, pursuing the long-term interest and facilitating active citizenship
• Remove many of the requirements for public service chief executives and the Public Service Commissioner to promote diversity and inclusion in the public service
• Change the ‘good employer’ obligations in the Act to remove references to pay equity and reducing bias and discrimination
• Removes reappointments for CEs, meaning they need to go through a contestable application process for each term
• Gives the Public Service Commissioner more oversight and influence over matters of performance, integrity and conduct, and appointments to key positions in the public service
• Gives public service chief executives the ability to delegate their functions or powers to contractors or employees of contracted providers.

Submissions are open on the Bill until 11.59pm on Sunday, 31 August 2025 on the Parliament website.

The PSA’s submission

The PSA made a submission opposing the Bill. We consider it a backwards step – one that will contribute to a public service that’s less connected to communities, less able to hold on to its capability to address big issues over the long term, more politicised, and less able to hold on to talented people who care about a spirit of service to their community.  

While there are some elements in the Bill we feel could be helpful in improving public service performance there are parts of the Bill we are particularly concerned about. We recommended the Bill does not proceed, but also made recommendations for improvements if the Bill does proceed.

You can read our submission below.