Australia's largest employer is the State Government of New South Wales and its agencies. It represents AUD60 billion of the economy in New South Wales. Any reform in the public sector is, therefore, important to us all.

On 23 May 2013, the NSW State Premier Barry O'Farrell introduced into State Parliament the Government Sector Employment Bill 2013 (GSE Bill) and the Members of Parliament Staff Bill 2013 (MPS Bill). These Bills represent a substantial overhaul of the regulation of public sector employment and, once passed, will repeal and replace the current Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 (NSW) (PSEMA).

History -

Historically, the New South Wales public service was, conceptually at least, a replica of the Westminster model where a centralised agency recruited, nurtured, deployed and disciplined members of the civil service. Politicians came and went and the civil service mantra is simply to support the government of the day.