Businesslink provides shared services such as IT and finance to a variety of state departments.
In a letter obtained by The Australian, NSW Minister for Family and Community Services Pru Goward explained the move to her department's director-general, Jim Moore.
Although the letter, dated March 13, did not contain the number of expected casualties, sources told The Australian that 800 jobs were on the line.
In Ms Goward's letter, she said that she, Treasurer Mike Baird and Minister for Ageing Andrew Constance had agreed that "Businesslink cannot deliver the government's reform agenda in the Department of Family and Community Services." The trio are Businesslink shareholders.
"I therefore advise that a transition plan be prepared outlining steps to Businesslink's dissolution," Ms Goward wrote.
The transition plan will be led by Treasury and FaCS and will be informed by an independent audit commissioned by Treasury, she wrote.
"The meeting agreed that the Treasurer would urgently seek advice regarding the appointment of an independent administrator," Ms Goward's letter stated.
She said until further advice and guidance were received by Treasury, her department and Businesslink must immediately place on hold any transfer of money, of people or assets to or from Businesslink.
Ms Goward's office refused to confirm whether Businesslink workers would have jobs by the end of the year, nor comment on the status or contents of the transition plan.
Her office also declined to say when Businesslink employees would be informed of the dissolution.
"All areas of the Department of Family and Community Services are undergoing reform to improve services and lives," a spokesman for Ms Goward said.
"We need to take stock of current shared services plans and ensure they are properly aligned to where FaCS is going and the high standards this government places on breaking disadvantage for our most vulnerable."
An audit report last year delivered a scathing assessment of Businesslink's performance; it began integrating three SAP systems nine years after its establishment.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Fran Foo
Quelle/Source: Australian IT, 04.06.2013
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