Thirty years?

Mr Roozendaal must be referring to the 1978 report ``Directions for Change'', which was written for the NSW parliament by one of Australia's great public servants, Dr Peter Wilenski.

I wonder if the treasurer thought that anyone would pick up on his claim to historical importance.

Mr Roozendaal's grand plan runs to 4 pages, tucked away in chapter 3 of Budget Paper No 2.

The plan has five measures: limit public servants wages growth to 2.5% p.a.; create 13 super departments to overseer the government's 160 agencies and offices; review IT and other big ticket outsourcing; put audit teams into the agencies; and review the finances of state owned enterprises.

These are all good things although the proposals lack detail, direction and any sign of real government commitment. It could be Hollowmen stuff.

In contrast, Peter Wilenski's 353 page report detailed an agenda for change. It confronted a public service that had become insular, secret and wasteful. Wilenski gave NSW an architecture for a modern public service based on efficiency, effectiveness, equity and accountability. The reforms sought an end to the perpetuation of fiefdoms and the protection of perks. The NSW public service was opened up to women and to people from non-Anglo backgrounds. Masonic and religious patronage was exposed.

Wilenski's report led to the creation of the anti-discrimination board, the equal opportunity commissioner, the ombudsmen, the privacy commissioner and the public administration tribunal.

And so began a golden age in modern government and public service in Australia.

Thirty years on -- yes, good timing Mr Treasurer -- there are many questions about our public service once again. Is its leadership up to the task? Is the state's administration once again shrouded in secrecy, soiled by the appointment of mates to key posts in ways that reek of political and personal deals rather than a proper consideration of professional merit? Have ministerial offices become crowded with spin doctors rather than well trained public servants? Are we back to the bad old days when public information requests are routinely denied?