CONTRACTING FOR PUBLIC-SERVICES - A REVIEW OF ANTIPODEAN EXPERIENCE

In this article the evolution of competitive tendering and contracting (CTC) policy in Australia and New Zealand is documented and evaluated . Policy implementation at Commonwealth, State and local levels in Aus tralia is examined in some detail. This was followed by a similar anal ysis of the two levels of government in New Zealand. An overall apprai sal of the impact of CTC on efficiency and effectiveness of service de livery is undertaken, based on disaggregated contracting surveys of St ate and Commonwealth government agencies as well as a wide range of ot her sources of information. The key findings, which are summarized in tabular form, indicate that the pace of implementation has varied wide ly across jurisdictions. This variability is largely a function of dif ferences in political orientation of the governments in power, particu larly in Australia. Despite these differences, the findings suggest th at efficiency gains stemming from the application of cre are substanti al and widespread. Furthermore, quality of service has not, in general , been sacrificed to cost reductions. There is every indication that t he current rate of progress of policy implementation is set to continu e. In Australia, it may even accelerate with the onset of a national c ompetition policy which will place competitive pressures on providers of public services.