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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Jasper Lindell

Current ministerial responsibility carve up 'making it hard for public service'

The ACT Greens want portfolios in the territory's cabinet to be simplified in an effort to make the government more efficient.

Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said issues were being cut up across ministers, which had made for a less efficient ministry.

"I think it makes it harder for the public service. They've got too many reporting lines. We think there's a lot of scope to improve the administrative arrangements," Mr Rattenbury said.

Mr Rattenbury said a simplification of responsibilities could introduce greater clarity and lead to better accountability, without cutting the number of ministers.

"There's a lot of work to be done in the ACT government. We've got all the state government responsibilities, as well as the local government responsibilities," he said.

Greens leader Shane Rattenbury. Picture by Karleen Minney

Mr Rattenbury this term held the water, energy and emissions reduction portfolios while Chief Minister Andrew Barr held the climate action portfolio.

Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry held the housing portfolio, while Rebecca Vassarotti, the deputy Greens leader, was responsible for housing services.

Mr Barr on Monday said his preferred cabinet size would depend on the make up of the Assembly after the election.

"The reality in a small government - and this is the case in the Northern Territory, in Tasmania as well - is that ministers will need to hold multiple portfolios," Mr Barr said.

"But I can tell you having experienced being a minister for eight different portfolios at one point in my career that that is not viable."

Mr Barr said eight or nine ministers would be the size of the government, depending on whether it was a minority government or some form of coalition.

"I can't see it ever going below seven again. And I would have thought eight or nine is a reasonable number, but nine is the maximum. And nine out of 25 [Legislative Assembly members] means the executive is still a minority within the parliament," he said.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee criticised Mr Rattenbury and said the Canberra Liberals would complete a "very comprehensive machinery of government process" to determine how its cabinet would work.

"Given the Greens have also suggested a minister for mountain biking, I wouldn't take anything they say about cabinet very seriously," Ms Lee said.

Ms Lee, who made no commitment about the size of a future Liberal cabinet, added: "There's no doubt that we can make significant changes that will improve the outcomes for Canberrans in government service delivery instead of making decisions on which lollies that {Mr Barr] needs to give out to various factional members in his party group."

Belco Party leader Bill Stefaniak, who is a former Liberal opposition leader, last week called for a cut to the number of ministers and a more collaborative committee process to administer portfolios.

"There's 25 people in the Assembly. You don't need nine ministers. I know the current government has that. ... But you literally don't need that and you'd save a considerable amount of money if you went back to six ministers," Mr Stefaniak told The Canberra Times.

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