Explanatory note

This Supplementary Order Paper inserts a new Part 23A in the Statutes Amendment Bill. New Part 23A replaces section 41(4A) of the State Sector Act 1988.

Section 41(4A) currently requires any written notification in relation to actions taken by delegates of Public Service chief executives to provide details of the delegation.

Section 41(4A) was inserted into a Bill amending the State Sector Act 1988 in May 2013 in response to a submission to a select committee that “third parties should be entitled to know that a decision is being made by a contractor or a person outside the [Public Service] under delegation, as the normal expectation is that decisions will be made either by the person or body on whom the power of decision is conferred or a member of the Public Service under delegation”.

The policy intention of section 41(4A) was to require notification of delegation details only in relation to delegates outside the Public Service. However, section 41(4A) could be interpreted to require notification also in relation to delegates within the Public Service. Such an interpretation is unintended and would be administratively expensive and resource-intensive with no gain to the public.

This Supplementary Order Paper therefore replaces section 41(4A) to clarify that notification of delegation details is required only in relation to delegates outside the Public Service. The notification must—

• state that the action was taken by a delegate outside the Public Service; and

• give the delegate's name and office; and

• state that a copy of the instrument of delegation may be inspected at the delegating Public Service chief executive's office.