How We Think

Although the policies and programs of Budget 2022-23 will not be known until Tuesday night, the direction of the Government is well established. A combined $1.3 billion worth of spending cuts were promised during the election, with the PBO Report outlining that $500 million worth of savings would be found from cutting expenditure on external labour for hire and consultants. Given internal legal budgets will not be expanded, we must ask ourselves, how can we find uplift?

As we approach Budget 2022/23, we are all aware of the fiscal challenge that faces the Commonwealth. To deliver on what was promised to the Australian people during the Election, the Commonwealth must find efficiencies in its programs and policies.

Public/Private Partnerships (PPPs) can be so much more than the traditional infrastructure projects we typically associate with that term. Now more than ever, strong partnerships between the Australian Public Service (APS) and the private sector are essential to enable the core capability and capacity to be uplifted across the public service – especially with the renewed focus from Government to bring work “back in-house” to the APS.

In recent years we've seen an encouraging downward trend in the volume of vacant Commonwealth-leased office space. This indicates that the Commonwealth’s leasing footprint is being used relatively efficiently, however, there is an opportunity now to continue to capitalise on this positive trend by further considering: setting specific targets to work towards, forward planning leasing options, and how fit-out choices and fit-out guidelines may help.

Synergy Group is passionate about and committed to giving back to our community. Our Synergy Law Team do this by partnering with organisations in our community to provide support by way of pro bono legal advice and services, but also getting involved in their core business activities. 

In the pursuit of the physical safety of employees, employers have fire wardens, first aid officers, regular testing of electrical equipment, and trusty “wet floor” signs (only if there’s a wet floor otherwise it forms a hazard). But are employers as diligent in their mitigation of risks when it comes to the psychosocial wellbeing of employees?