Skip to content Skip to footer

Productivity Commission’s inquiry: introducing competition and informed user choice into human services

Publication date: 28 September 2016

This submission comments on the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into introducing competition and informed user choice into human services.

Jesuit Social Services is a strong advocate for innovative and quality human services.

Our programs have developed in response to local community needs, working with the community to support those most vulnerable in our society.

This submission draws on our experience undertaking this work, including by partnering with governments to deliver a wide variety of human services.

Our key recommendations to the Commission are to:

  • Reinforce the important role played by government and human services together in addressing complex and dynamic social problems (i.e. addressing entrenched disadvantage).
  • Recognise that community organisations should not be seen simply as government service delivery arms, but as co-producers of policy and program solutions.
  • Recognise that the role of government must be greater than that of a service purchasing agency – in some circumstances government will be best placed to deliver services.
  • Ensure there is robust evaluation of the recent experiences of commissioning and tendering of government services to ensure that vulnerable communities do not lose out through marketisation.
  • Avoid undue haste in implementation of any reforms and ensure careful and considered planning with high levels of stakeholder engagement.

Get your copy

 

cover-productivity-commission-submission

The People’s Inquiry into Privatisation

Jesuit Social Services also made a complementary submission to the People’s Inquiry into Privatisation initiated by the Public Services International (PSI) Australia.

This inquiry runs parallel to the Productivity Commission inquiry.

Instead of looking into ways to further marketise and privatise public services for the benefit of business, it will build a comprehensive national picture of privatisation and its impacts on people, and report on alternatives to privatisation.

Get your copy

Want to find out more?

Browse some of our other articles and stories

Jesuit Social Services
Policy submissions
Federal Pre-Budget Submission 2024-25
Jesuit Social Services calls on the Federal government to devote resources towards reducing inequity and exclusion, and ensuring people on the margins are given every opportunity to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. The upcoming budget must provide meaningful cost of living relief, especially for people on the lowest incomes, and must provide adequate and secure funding for the community service organisations that are dealing with unprecedented levels of demand in the face of events such as the worsening housing crisis.
Jesuit Social Services
Policy submissions
Submission to the Draft Online Safety Standards consultation
In general, we support the proposed Standards and commend the eSafety Commissioner for proposing them. We believe that the right to protection from exploitation, violence and abuse, and the rights and best interests of children, are paramount.
Jesuit Social Services
Policy submissions
Submission in response to the Department of Social Services’ Issues Paper – A stronger, more diverse and independent community sector
Jesuit Social Services was pleased to contribute a submission in response to the Department of Social Services’ Issues Paper on the Federal Government’s election commitment for “a stronger, more diverse and independent community sector”. Our submission argues reform is needed to change the way Government works with and funds community services organisations.
Jesuit Social Services
Policy submissions
Submission to the NDIS Review
Jesuit Social Services
Policy submissions
Submission to the Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework
Jesuit Social Services made submission to the Federal Government’s National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality in early 2023, advocating for a strategy that recognises and addresses harmful gender norms for people of all genders.
Jesuit Social Services
Policy submissions
Justice Reinvestment Design Submission
Read our submission to the Justice Reinvestment Design Project.
Jesuit Social Services
Policy submissions
Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Philanthropy
Jesuit Social Services was pleased to contribute a submission to the Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Philanthropy – an opportunity to analyse motivations for and grow philanthropic giving in Australia, in line with the Federal Government's goal to double philanthropic giving by 2030.