In a ministerial advisory document released through Freedom of Information, DoHDA secretary Blair Comley said ‘more doing, less reviewing’ would be a ‘good mindset’.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s secretary has urged federal health minister Mark Butler to curb the commissioning of new inquiries, citing the strain on departmental resources and the risk of overwhelming bureaucrats.
In a briefing to the Albanese government, reported by The Guardian this week as obtained through Freedom of Information, Blair Comley highlighted that more than 70 reviews were initiated during Labor’s first three years in office, with each costing upwards of $25 million.
These reviews, while comprehensive, have led to a backlog of recommendations awaiting action. Mr Comley emphasised the need to prioritise implementation over analysis to address urgent issues in the health sector.
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“We have a stock of completed reviews that have consulted widely and include significant recommendations,” Comley said in the documents.
“I would suggest that ‘even more doing, less reviewing’ would be a good mindset for this term.
“With each review, stakeholder expectations continue to rise. There is an expectation that government will adopt all recommendations of these reviews.”
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Ministerial briefs such as these are typically prepared by department and agency leaders across the public service after an election.
Mr Comley reportedly pointed to the health technology assessment review as a key example, noting it produced 50 reform recommendations, many carrying substantial implementation costs.
He also cited other significant reviews, including the Medicare review, the financial health check of private hospitals, and the review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“The work of the first term gives a strong foundation of robust information, a strong mandate for reform, and the time has come to deliver on priority commitments,” Mr Comley was reported as saying.
“There will be reviews that make sense where there is a compelling case due to one or more of the three motivations, but the bar should be set high.”
Mr Comley’s advice underscores the importance of translating policy recommendations into tangible outcomes, particularly in the health sector, where timely action is critical.
The Guardian reported that the brief was handed to Mr Butler on 13 May, however his office declined to comment.
