ACT Public Sector (Closing the Gap) Legislation

8 October 2025

The Productivity Commission welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the ACT Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration.

The PC's first review of progress under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap found that governments had largely not fulfilled their commitments under the Agreement. The review recommended 16 essential actions to strengthen accountability and drive behaviour change. 

The ACT's Public Sector (Closing the Gap) Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 gives effect to two of these essential actions. In this submission, we find that the proposed changes to government reporting and public sector employment requirements will build greater understanding of the Agreement and strengthen efforts to put it into practice. The PC supports the intent of the Amendment Bill and encourages other jurisdictions to adopt a similar approach.

The PC provided the submission to the review on 18 September 2025 and it was published on our website on 8 October 2025.