Mr CONAGHAN (Cowper) (09:11): I rise to speak on the statement of significant matters regarding the State of the service report2024-25. This report, as required under section 44 of the Public Service Act 1999, provides a valuable annual snapshot of the Australian Public Service: its priorities, its challenges and its performance over the past year. This report is not produced in isolation. It represents the collective work of the Australian Public Service Commission and agencies across the APS, and it reflects how the APS supports not only the Australia government and the parliament but ultimately the Australian people. We all serve the Australian people, and, as we continue to face significant economic, social and geopolitical headwinds, a capable and focused APS is more important than ever. Last year's report marked 120 years of APS reporting—a milestone in the history of a public service that has long served Australia with professionalism. But with this long history comes a responsibility to adapt, to modernise and, above all, to remain efficient and respectful of the taxpayers' money. I hope that, when every public servant goes to work, they remember that, ultimately, their role is to serve the public. As a fellow public servant, that is certainly a duty that I take very seriously. The coalition believes in a high-performing public service that can do more with its existing resources, not through endless new spending but through eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy. Unfortunately, the focus of the current government is not resulting in the best outcomes for Australians. We want an APS that is agile—able to respond quickly to new challenges and not weighed down by redundant or duplicative processes. We want an APS that is focused, delivering core services well rather than spreading itself too thin or duplicating the work of communities, individuals or the private sector. And, most of all, we want an APS that is outcomes focused, where internal processes don't get in the way of delivering real benefits for Australians on the ground. That's why we were particularly concerned to learn, via reporting in the Australian Financial Review, that the Minister for Finance has directed government departments and agencies to prepare spending cuts of up to five per cent. This is on top of the standard one per cent efficiency dividend already in place. This is a significant cut and one that this government never admitted to during the election campaign. In fact, they said the opposite. They said they would not cut the Public Service. They were happy to criticise any prospect of Public Service reductions by the coalition but secretly harboured their own far more ambitious plans. Public servants should be outraged at the betrayal by this government. But, with the budget now facing a projected $42 billion deficit this year, the government is clearly scrambling for savings. Either they will have to make cuts or they will have to raise taxes. This was obvious at the previous election, but this government didn't want to be upfront with the Australian public. The minister needs to be honest. She should outline to the public the intent and scale of these cuts. Public servants deserve to know if their jobs are safe. Australians deserve transparency, not secrecy, when it comes to how their Public Service is managed. This report also notes several key developments across the APS. First, the government's policy on artificial intelligence, which came into effect on 1 September 2024, marks an important step forward. The responsible use of AI is one of the greatest challenges facing the Public Service over the coming decade. Done well, it can enhance productivity and innovation, but it must be implemented with transparency, accountability and an unwavering focus on improving service delivery. Second, Working for women: a strategy for gender equality, released in March 2024, provides a cross-government framework for gender equity. The opposition strongly supports policies that empower women to thrive in the APS, including in leadership roles. Every Australian, regardless of gender, should feel safe and valued in the workplace. Australians in the APS should be judged by their performance and capabilities, not just by their gender. Third, we note that the National Anti-Corruption Commission has now been operating for over two years. We hope this year's report provides robust analysis on how the NACC is functioning and whether it is successfully identifying and addressing misconduct. The parliament must be prepared to act on lessons that emerge from that work, including possible structural or legislative reforms. As a member of the committee with oversight of the NACC, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission, I know Australians want to see this body root out corruption. Finally, last year's report flagged the development of an integrity strategy for the Commonwealth Public Service. We hope this year's addition shows real progress, because coordination and information sharing across agencies is essential to lifting ethical standards across the board. In conclusion, the coalition supports a Public Service that is modern, efficient and responsive to the evolving needs of our nation. We will continue to bring forward policies to support that vision. That includes empowering a Public Service that is more agile, focused and accountable. We believe in service delivery based on what works, not on ideology, and we will always support innovation that improves outcomes for all Australians. The coalition want to thank the APS for their work over the past year and the Australian Public Service Commissioner for the release of this report.