Role of Central Agencies
Page updated 20 May 2010
The Treasury is one of three Central Agencies working to provide leadership within the State sector.
The three central State sector agencies, the Treasury, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the State Services Commission, work together on a number of fronts to support the Government and provide leadership within the State sector.
This central agency role reflects the unique position that the three agencies share. They each have, through their individual roles, a State sector system-wide perspective, engagements and connections with every other agency and significant State sector performance levers available (such as the Government’s strategy, Budget and chief executive performance).
The common purpose of the central agencies is a shared interest in a high-performing, trusted and accessible State sector.
Central Agency Responsibilities
Each central agency has its own responsibilities, but also requires contributions from its central agency partners.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet conveys Cabinet decisions to the relevant Ministers and officials and ensures that the Cabinet receives well-conceived and co-ordinated advice. DPMC also has a leadership role in relation to Government themes and priorities, including conveying Government priorities to officials.
The Treasury
The Treasury monitors and manages the financial affairs of the Government and provides economic and fiscal policy advice. The Treasury is the key agency to support ministers in balancing priorities through the Budget process and also provides insight into the efficiency and effectiveness of government agencies and their actions.
The State Services Commission
The State Services Commission appoints and manages public service chief executives, provides leadership in capability of agencies, sectors and systems and ensures that State servants focus on addressing Government priorities.
Recent Central Agency Projects
The Treasury contributes to a number of State sector projects as part of its Central Agency responsibilities. These include:
- Performance Improvement Framework
- Development Goals for the State Services
- Code of Conduct for the State Services
- The Cabinet Manual
- EXG Review - Central Agencies - for an overview of how the three central agencies propose to lift State sector performance read their covering letter.
More Information
The Treasury aims to embed its central agency responsibilities at all levels in the work it undertakes. Information on the Treasury’s current approach to its central agency commitments are contained in the latest Statement of Intent 2010-2015 in the Improved State sector performance section.
