Public Service Minister Mathias Cormann has welcomed the interim findings of the independent review of the public service, saying there is always room for improvement in the public service.
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Labor also welcomed the review, but neither side of politics committed to implementing any of the draft recommendations.
"This review will help us explore opportunities to further improve the efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness of our public service by embracing technological innovation to better respond to increasing community expectations," Senator Cormann said.
"We need to make sure that public sector productivity can be sustained and improved in a world that continues to evolve around us."
The minister said some of the recommendations were similar to reforms already underway, including use of data and collaboration between departmental secretaries.
Review chair David Thodey has recommended an inspiring purpose and vision that unifies the public service should be legislated, while the minister signalled the parliament would be given the opportunity to debate the report's final recommendations.
Labor's finance spokesman Jim Chalmers also welcomed the interim report, saying Mr Thodey had raised important issues for further consideration.
"Our hope for the review is that it will help ensure Australians have the kind of public service they need and deserve – one that can properly deliver the services they rely on, offers frank and fearless advice to Government, and provides value for money," he said.
The main public sector union said there wasn't enough detail in the interim report to tell whether it would deliver substantive solutions to issues with the public service.
"We are extremely wary of some of the language used in this report," Community and Public Sector Union secretary Nadine Flood said.
"A flexible APS operating model must not be code for turning the public service into an employer that exploits rather than develops its workforce. Similarly, developing external partnerships should be about collaboration where it makes sense, not just farming out core Commonwealth functions to profit-hungry corporations."
Ms Flood said moving towards common pay and conditions across the public service makes sense, continuing calls for a whole of public service workforce plan.
