Alternatives to competitive tendering and privatisation: A case study fromthe Australian health industry

The international trend towards economic and financial management reforms i s well documented with most governments now being involved in public sector restructuring programs, which have at their core the aim of improving the quality of administrative functions through a more responsive approach by s tate agencies (OECD 1996). In nations with administrative systems derived f rom British models these efforts may be generally referred to as 'the de-Si r Humphreying of the Westminister model' (Hood 1990:105), In essence this a pproach has had three aims. First, it has attempted to diminish the role of the state and make the bureaucracy more responsive to political leaders. S econd, it has aimed for greater efficiency through the use of private secto r management techniques. Third, it has focused on the citizen as a customer and service recipient (Aucoin 1990:16).