LNP PLAN TO BUILD A PUBLIC SERVICE OF EXCELLENCE
A Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National Government would implement a comprehensive plan to improve engagement
and service delivery for the Queensland public service as part of our plan to Build a Better Queensland.
Mr Nicholls today launched the LNP’s plan to empower public servants with the training, skills and leadership to
deliver better outcomes for Queenslanders.
“We need to get better bang for buck for Queensland’s public service. We believe the best way of doing that is to
improve engagement and service delivery,” Mr Nicholls said.
“An engaged workforce is a highly productive workforce that obtains the best results but, as shown in the
Working for Queensland survey, less than half of employees believe the organisation is well managed.
“We believe the best way to engage public service employees is to better equip our leaders and to provide
employees with the skills and opportunities they need to advance their careers. A more engaged, inclusive and
diverse workforce leads to better decision making and higher levels of productivity and performance.”
Mr Nicholls also categorically ruled out any forced redundancies and said the public service would be held more
accountable to deliver outcomes under a future LNP Government.
“The LNP is focused on streamlining processes and ensuring public servants spend less time dealing with
bureaucratic red tape and can spend more time delivering outcomes for Queenslanders,” he said.
A Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government will deliver a more flexible and engaging public service to deliver better
outcomes for Queenslanders by:
• Establishing a Leaders of Tomorrow program;
• Creating a 10-year target to increase the proportion of women in senior leadership roles to 50 per cent and
double the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in senior leadership roles;
• Engaging an advisory committee, including non-government representatives, to investigate and look at ways
of increasing representation for other equal opportunity groups, including people with a disability and people
from non-English speaking backgrounds;
• Signing formal agreements with private sector, non-government and other public sector agencies to allow for
more secondment and exchange programs.
LNP Deputy Leader Deb Frecklington said all appointments and future opportunities offered under the Public
Service of Excellence program would be subject to a merit-based selection process.
“Every year a select number of high-potential leaders in the Queensland public service will be given the
opportunity to build their skill set through the Leaders of Tomorrow program,” Ms Frecklington said.
“The program will offer a number of development options tailored to the individuals in the program.
“Opportunities include education activities, coaching, mentoring, networking opportunities, secondments and
other on-the-job exposure.”
Mr Nicholls said committing to a gender target made economic sense.
“Women occupy fewer than 36 per cent of senior executive positions in the Queensland public service, despite
making up two-thirds of the total public service,” he said.
“A growing body of research shows that organisations with greater gender equality perform better, that more
women in leadership roles are associated with better performance and that gender equality promotes an
environment where innovation can flourish.
“Economic modelling undertaken by Deloitte Access Economics shows that gender equality on boards would
improve the productivity of the Queensland economy by $87 million (Deloitte Access Economics Queensland
Business Outlook December 2016).
“If we are to have a better-performing and more engaged public service it’s critical we seek to close the gender
gap in management positions.”
Mr Nicholls said a diversity target was necessary to properly set about a culture of change in the Queensland
