I refer to the Premier and Treasurer's letter of 18 October, 1990 which contained arrangements for streamlining Ministerial private office staffing.

Under the new arrangement the Premier intends that Ministers will make decisions on the following matters in relation to private office staffing for which the Industrial Authority has statutory responsibility .

a) Classification and Grading of Positions

b) Commencing rates of pay

c) Higher rates of pay and allowances

d) Remuneration of senior staff

Under the current provisions of the Public Sector Management Act, the formal delegation of the authority to finalise private office staffing arrangements within staffing budgets needs to be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer of the host agency, because there is no provision in the Act permitting delegation of those functions to Ministers.

The necessary formal delegation to Chief Executive Officers are being issued by the Department of Industrial Relations. This arrangement has the advantage that Ministers will be relieved of the routine paper works associated with establishment and staffing matters for private staffs. Of course, Chief Executive Officers will only exercise these delegations after consultation with their Minister.

The Department of Industrial Relations will continue to be available to provide a consultancy and support service, if required.

R.G. Humphry
Director-General