Federal Department of Environment – internal review of its operations and job cuts expected

The Federal Department of the Environment will conduct an internal strategic review of its operations over coming months to examine its core objectives, roles and responsibilities, and to inform its future priorities and organisational arrangements.

The review is being undertaken in the context of the new Government’s policy priorities, current government changes, following the election, and the broader fiscal environmental within which the Department is operating.

The review will be undertaken internally and guided by a reference panel of external experts with experience in government who will be appointed in the next few weeks by departmental Secretary, Gordon de Brouwer.

The Department will also initiate a voluntary redundancy programme aimed at reducing staffing levels by around 150 to ensure it operates within its allocated budget.

The staff of the Department have been advised of this action. 

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference states that the review will:

• advise on the core objectives, roles and responsibilities of the Department, in particular whether they can be achieved in simpler and more streamlined ways consistent with accountability frameworks by a focus on:
  
  • risk-based approaches;
    
  • achieving outcomes rather than imposing input controls;
    
  • reducing burdens on key external parties;
    
  • reducing burdens in internal processes;
    
  • eliminating internal duplication and overlap in functions; and
    
  • reducing overlap between different levels of government in Australia.

• advise on the priorities for the Department, including activities that could be changed, wound back or ceased;

• identify opportunities to strengthen policy analysis, including across science and economics, and the use of the evidence base for advice on policy and its implementation across the Department;

• identify organisational capability gaps and opportunities for professional and career development;

• advise on governance in the Department, including the structure, points and span of decision making; and
  
• advise on current operational, budgetary, reputational and other risks to the Department, potential future risks, and what further action could be taken to mitigate these risks.