From John Clennett, former States Treasurer.
SENATOR Ben Shenton is to be congratulated in raising the matter of potential savings in States expenditure identified about 18 months ago in respect of which no action appears to have been taken, but it is surely wrong that civil servants should be held to account for such failure. Most, if not all of the items identified are matters of policy.

The minister is responsible for the policy of his or her department, the civil servants being bound to carry out the instructions of the minister (unless they should be illegal).

It is for the minister to decide whether any proposed changes in policy would be accepted by the electorate and whether his/her tenure of office might be jeopardised. Therefore it is the minister who is most likely to veto or shelve any proposals for savings.

A chief officer appearing before the Public Accounts Committee in public session will be placed in a very invidious position in having to defend lack of action, properly the responsibility of his minister.

It is, in my opinion, the ministers who should be grilled by the Public Accounts Committee as to the reasons for lack of action.
Couelle Cottage, Rue du Coin, St Ouen.