Administrative Guidelines on Engaging Professional Services and Labour Hire

Summary

Two separate but related administrative guidelines issued by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) under Public Administration Act 2004, section 36A(1). Updated July 2024.

These guidelines provide a decision-making framework for VPS use of professional services and labour hire, including approval, record-keeping and reporting requirements.

Authority Chain — SEPARATE from FMA/Standing Directions

This is a critical architectural point:

Public Administration Act 2004 (s36A)
  └── Secretary, DPC
        ├── Administrative Guidelines: Professional Services (July 2024)
        └── Administrative Guidelines: Labour Hire (July 2024)

NOT through:
Financial Management Act 1994 (s8)
  └── Standing Directions
        └── VGPB supply policies

The guidelines derive their authority from the PAA (purple box in the SD hierarchy diagram), not from the FMA/SD chain (blue box). This means: - They are issued by DPC, not DTF - They operate as a parallel obligation alongside VGPB supply policies - For professional services and labour hire, entities must comply with BOTH the VGPB policies AND these guidelines

PAA Section 36A

• s36A(1): Secretary of DPC may issue administrative guidelines to public service bodies and public entities
• s36A(3): If a public service body or public entity operates inconsistently with the guidelines, the relevant Head must provide written reasons to the Secretary of DPC

This "comply or explain" mechanism is different from the VGPB mandatory compliance model.

Application

• Departments/VPS: Must follow the guidelines
• Public entities: Must provide written reasons to DPC Secretary if operating inconsistently (comply or explain)

Key Features (to be extracted from the full guidelines)

• Decision-making framework for when to use professional services / labour hire
• Approval requirements and thresholds
• Record-keeping and reporting obligations
• Updated July 2024

Resources

• Professional Services Guidelines
• Labour Hire Guidelines
• Overview page