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PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD PLAN
Attempt to boost
staff exchanges
By STEPHEN PAYNE
The Public Service Board is attempt
ing to sharply increase departments' par-'
ticipation in the scheme to interchange
staff with the private sector and other
government organisations.
The service-wide ceiling against which in
terchangees will be held has been increased
to 120, 80 more than for 980-81. The board
said last week that 120 was a minimum figure
and could be increased if more exchanges were
arranged.
The Review of Commonwealth Functions
had recommended that the program be ex
panded. The chairman of the PSB, Sir Wil
liam Cole, has written to all permanent heads
to encourage their participation and to inform
them of the interchange quota for their de
partments.
Although titled "interchange", the pro
gram has operated largely on a unilateral
basis, with 109 public servants being placed
since the scheme began in 1977 and 62 people
being placed in the Public Service.
Of the 109, 65 were placed in the private
sector, 29 in State Governments, eight in local
government and seven to academic and other
institutions.
The board said it was hoping to redress the
imbalance b pointing out to private firms the
benefits their staff could gain from working
in government. The Minister assisting the
Prime Minister, Mr Viner, had written to
many prominent business leaders seeking their
support for the program. •
Asked if departments would be willing to
release senior staff for the program with the
present tight ceilings, the spokesman said,
"We have been urging departments to take a
longer term view. They will get their people
back, hopfully as better officers'-! "■ ; '
A"gentleman's agreement"' existed' that
host organisations should not offer permanent'
jobs to staff on interchange and the wastage
rate had been kept to less than-2 per cent..
Departments were free to arrange ex
changes themselves, or the board's. In
terchange Section would do so, but the board
had to approve all placements under the
progam.
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