Business Commons^™

Financial Management Reform In The Australian Public Sector: Marginalising Public Accountability And Welfare, M. Mccrae, M. Kaidonis

Faculty of Business - Accounting & Finance Working Papers

The reform program revolutionising financial administration and management in the Australian public sector has brought substantial gains in the cost efficiency and effectiveness of operations of both Departmental and non-departmental organisational entities and programs. The instillation of a business or commercial ethos into public service organisations through the adoption of private sector financial management practices, objectives and accountabilities has wrought profound change to the way the public sector 'does business'. But there is strong evidence that the commercialisation of public sector financial administration has also 'commercialised' public sector accountability and attitudes towards public service and infrastructure provision. This article examines …