Permanent secretaries challenged on policy

Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga has challenged permanent secretaries to improve policy development within ministries and departments.

He officiated at a legislative and policy training for permanent secretaries in Nadi today.

The two-day event included deputy secretaries, members of the Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislation, and fellow ministers.

“The process of developing policy up to the point of drafting any proposed law involves multiple stakeholders,” Mr Turaga said.

“It is our intention with this training to ensure all stakeholders are aware of their roles and understand the responsibilities of others.”

He stressed that achieving government objectives depends on formulating effective policies to guide the use of resources. Robust policies also enable the drafting of effective legislation.

“The process is not easy because it requires collaboration, technical expertise, creativity, and problem-solving,” Mr Turaga said.

“The better the collaboration among all stakeholders, the better the outcome.”

From the office’s perspective, a major challenge is ensuring accurate policy instructions.

He also expressed appreciation to the Australian Attorney-General’s Department for providing the training content and for preparing Fijian officers to train others on this crucial aspect of government operations.