C2024-08 Housing Taskforce - Agency Representatives

Addressing housing supply and ensuring more homes are built in NSW requires the support of, and a concerted effort by, a range of NSW public sector agencies.

The following agencies will be required to have agency representatives seconded to the Housing Taskforce: the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (specifically staff from Fisheries), the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (specifically staff from water, heritage and biodiversity), Premier’s Department, Treasury, The Cabinet Office, Transport for NSW, the Environment Protection Authority, Rural Fire Service, Homes NSW, Building Commission NSW and the State Emergency Service.

The Secretary of DPHI may request that the head of a government sector agency allocate an employee of their Agency (‘Agency Representative’) to the Housing Taskforce. The Agency Head (or their delegate) is the decision-maker in relation to the allocation of staff.

Agency Representatives allocated to the Housing Taskforce will primarily perform a case management role – this will involve triaging, co-ordinating and case management of agency input into development applications that require State agency advice or approvals.

Some Agency Representatives will perform specialist technical and advisory roles and others may be assigned to perform more generalist roles including customer advice on agency referrals, project management, policy and stakeholder engagement. 

Agency Representatives must be an employee (either temporary or ongoing) of the agency from which they are allocated from (the ‘home agency’).

Agency Representatives remain employees of their home agency under their agency terms and conditions of employment and are subject to their home agency’s code of conduct and the Code of Ethics and Conduct for NSW Government Sector Employees.

Guidelines for the allocation of Agency Representatives

The following Guidelines apply to the allocation of Agency Representatives to the Housing Taskforce:

Allocation process

• The decision to allocate an Agency Representative to the Housing Taskforce is made by the head of the Agency Representative’s home agency (or their delegate) following consultation with the Housing Taskforce Executive Director.
• The decision to allocate an Agency Representative should be based on an assessment of the capabilities, knowledge and experience of the individual employee against the pre-established standards for the role (as set out in the role description), in accordance with the NSW Government Public Sector Capability Framework.
• Agency Representatives to be allocated to the Housing Taskforce should be advised by their home agency in writing and accept the terms and conditions applying to the allocation (for example, pay rate, employment status and end date).

Length of allocation

• Agency Representatives should be allocated to the Taskforce on a temporary basis, generally for a period of between 12-24 months and not exceeding two years (including any extensions)
• This allows sufficient time for Agency Representatives to become familiar with the Housing Taskforce operating environment and operate with a high level of competence, whilst ensuring individuals can return to their home agency to share learnings and improvement opportunities.
• At the completion, ongoing agency staff return to a role in their agency at the same grade as they held prior to being allocated to the Taskforce.

Payroll/administrative arrangements

• Payroll and leave administration for Agency Representatives will be provided by the home agency, with leave and other matters considered in consultation with the Housing Taskforce.
• Employee-related costs of Agency Representatives are to be met from the budgets of home agencies (e.g. mobile telephone, office equipment). Other costs, for example, travel and accommodation for official business, are to be met from the Housing Taskforce budget.

Arrangements during the allocation

• Day to day, Agency Representatives will be supervised by the Housing Taskforce Executive Director.
• Agency Representatives are immediately required to bring to the attention of the Housing Taskforce Executive Director and home agency any matter that could give rise to a potential or perceived conflict of interest.
• DPHI will conduct regular audits to ensure currency of Agency Representative allocations within the Housing Taskforce, with the Housing Taskforce Executive Director required to review Agency Representative performance and conduct in conjunction with their line reporting Manager at their home agency.