1st Aug 2019, 12:07 PM – Senate Committees - Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee - Reference

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by NSW Senator Kristina Keneally (Labor), which means it passed.

Motion text

That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 October 2019:

The impact of changes to service delivery models on the administration and running of Government programs, with particular reference to:

(a) the privatisation of Australia's visa and citizenship program, including:

(i) the integrity of Australia's visa and citizenship system,

(ii) the commercial implications and increased costs to industry, with particular regard for the tourism and higher education sectors,

(iii) the implications to national security, data security and privacy, and

(iv) the risk to public sector employment – especially rural and regional employment – through service delivery model changes; and

(b) Centrelink's Robodebt compliance and outsourced debt collection program, including:

(i) the integrity and impact of the automated debt collection processes,

(ii) the limitations and impact of Robodebt collection methods,

(iii) the identification of inaccurate debts – made without human oversight,

(iv) the impact to public sector employment – especially on the capacity and adequacy of staffing level, and

(v) the review and appeals process for debt notices; and

(c) the broader outsourcing of functions in the Human Services portfolio and at the National Disability Insurance Agency, including

(i) the processes for contracting and tendering under the outsourcing of services;

(ii) the impact of capped staffing numbers and the efficiency dividend at government departments/agencies.

(iii) the future planning and preparation for the outsourcing of departmental functions;

(iv) the impact outsourcing has on service provision; and

(v) the impact on current public sector employment and the risks to future public sector employment; and

(d) the outsourcing of security vetting services in the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency, including:

(i) the processes for contracting and tendering under the outsourcing of services;

(ii) the impact of capped staffing numbers and the efficiency dividend at government departments/agencies.

(iii) the future planning and preparation for the outsourcing of departmental functions;

(iv) the impact outsourcing has on service provision; and

(v) the impact on current public sector employment and the risks to future public sector employment;

(e) and related matters.