Govt commits $30m for APS reforms but union warns not enough to cover staff cuts

The funding forms a part of a $98.8 million commitment to form a new agency, the Office of Supply Chain Resilience, which the government hopes will provide it with support to boost the country's supply chains and COVID-19 response.

In a seemingly unrelated line announcement, the commitment will also fund ongoing Australian Public Service reforms.

It's understood $28.1 million of the total amount will be dedicated to public service reforms over the coming two years with the Australian Public Service Commission receiving $15.6 million and the remainder going to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The funding will be given to the APS Reform Office and be put toward initiatives, including the recently-announced APS Academy, along with supporting the continuation of the APS Surge Reserve and enhancements to APS employment data infrastructure and its application.

The Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Melissa Donnelly said the commitment was still not enough to cover the job cuts that had already occurred over the years.

"The recent Thodey Review of the APS called for wholesale investment into APS capacity. But last week's budget yet again failed to provide the funding and investment that is required," Ms Donnelly said.

"The Office of Supply Chain Resilience won't bring back the over 13,000 APS staff cut by this government or deliver the real investment required in APS capacity.

"It is the consistent ideological attacks on the APS that need to be addressed, and that means committing to a secure and stable public sector with the staff, capacity and ICT systems that the community can rely on."

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The assistant minister for the public service Ben Morton announced earlier this year the APS Academy would help to drive reforms for the public sector, focusing on leadership, integrity and effective delivery and implementation.

"Each of these capabilities will be designed and delivered in partnership with the agencies that have known strengths in each area, connecting to existing APS centres of excellence," Mr Morton said.

"In this way, the specialist expertise that the Departments of Industry, Social Services and the National Indigenous Australians Agency can be brought to engagement, for example.

"Services Australia and the Department of Defence will help boost delivery and implementation capabilities and citizen-focused perspectives across the APS. And central agencies can help lift capabilities to support governance and policy design.

"The academy will also develop external networks with academic institutions and specialist providers."

The academy has cost nearly $500,000 in private contracts since it was first announced to help establish its program design and operating and funding models.