The Legal Structures of Responsible Government and Ministerial Responsibility
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Author(s)
Lawson, Charles
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2011
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The public administration reforms contained in the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth), Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth) and Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth) apparently devolve 'responsibility' to Agency Heads, Chief Executives and Directors respectively. This article surveys these framework legal arrangements applying to the executive and then documents the formal involvement of Ministers to assess the notions of responsible government and ministerial responsibility. The article concludes that the real and practical advance of devolution in the public administration reforms has ...
View more >The public administration reforms contained in the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth), Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth) and Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth) apparently devolve 'responsibility' to Agency Heads, Chief Executives and Directors respectively. This article surveys these framework legal arrangements applying to the executive and then documents the formal involvement of Ministers to assess the notions of responsible government and ministerial responsibility. The article concludes that the real and practical advance of devolution in the public administration reforms has been to distinguish between the spheres of activities of Ministers and public servants. As a consequence, there is a more nuanced understanding of responsible government and ministerial responsibility. It is seen that the 'responsibilities' of Ministers are separated from those of Agency Heads/Chief Executives/Directors, albeit the Ministers remain the conduit between the executive and the Parliament.
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View more >The public administration reforms contained in the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth), Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth) and Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth) apparently devolve 'responsibility' to Agency Heads, Chief Executives and Directors respectively. This article surveys these framework legal arrangements applying to the executive and then documents the formal involvement of Ministers to assess the notions of responsible government and ministerial responsibility. The article concludes that the real and practical advance of devolution in the public administration reforms has been to distinguish between the spheres of activities of Ministers and public servants. As a consequence, there is a more nuanced understanding of responsible government and ministerial responsibility. It is seen that the 'responsibilities' of Ministers are separated from those of Agency Heads/Chief Executives/Directors, albeit the Ministers remain the conduit between the executive and the Parliament.
View less >
Journal Title
Melbourne University Law Review
Volume
35
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2012 Melbourne Law School, Melbourne University . The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. For information about this journal please refer to the journal’s website or contact the author(s).
Subject
Corporations and associations law