This report contends that there is considerable scope to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commonwealth Government to lower costs for business, reduce inefficient spending, and deliver better services for all Australians. It puts forward recommendations for the Commonwealth Government to address inefficiency and waste. This requires considered and concerted ongoing action and strong accountability mechanisms. 

The report's recommendations fall into three categories: cutting red tape and regulation, reducing inefficient spending, and improving Government efficiency. 

Key recommendations

• Appoint a Minister to be responsible for red tape reduction and deregulation, within a central portfolio such as Treasury.
• Require that all new regulations are offset by removal of an existing regulatory burden on at least a 1:1 basis, aspiring to a 2:1 basis.
• Appoint a Minister within a Central portfolio (Prime Minister & Cabinet, Treasury or Finance) responsible for continually reviewing the effectiveness of grant programs and the potential for waste.
• Increase transparency regarding grants made under programs involving more than $100 million in expenditure per year.
• Appoint a Minister within the Prime Minister & Cabinet portfolio responsible for continually reviewing the efficiency of the public service, with a focus on duplication, the delivery of government services and wasteful spending outside of external grant programs.
• Enact a minimum six month hiring freeze across the public service (with some exemptions such as new graduates).
• Undertake benchmarking of the staffing level required to deliver government services and grant programs.
• Drive adoption of successful AI use-cases that improve productivity and service delivery across the Commonwealth public service.