About us

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (OCPE) is a central agency within the Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) with sector-wide responsibility for providing an effective employment framework for the management and development of the NTPS workforce. 

The Commissioner for Public Employment is the Chief Executive Officer and, under section 12 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act, is deemed to be the employer of all employees in the NTPS.

Role and function

The role and functions of the OCPE are to:

• support the Commissioner’s statutory role, as defined in the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 
• provide sound and timely advice to Government on all aspects of human resource issues affecting the public sector
• support Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and their agencies to develop relevant human resource management policies and practices
• advise CEOs on the implementation of policies and practices
• represent the interests of the Northern Territory Government in workplace negotiations and tribunal hearings as the statutory employer
• coordinate sector-wide training and development programs
• address employee concerns through appropriate review and appeal mechanisms
• identify emerging issues and provide a strategic focus for collaborative partnerships with CEOs
• provide leadership and guidance in the above matters across the public sector.

Administrative Arrangements Order

The Administrative Arrangements Order gives the OCPE principal responsibility for the following areas of Government administration:

• public sector
• industrial relations
• development and coordination of public and private employment strategies.

Acts

The OCPE is responsible for the following Acts:

• Public Sector Employment and Management Act.
• Public Sector Employment and Management Act (Transition and Savings).
• Public Sector Employment (Interim Arrangements) Act.
• Public Employment (Mobility) Act.
• Prisons (Arbitral Tribunal) Act.
• Police Administration Act (Part III).
• Annual Leave Act.
• Long Service Leave Act.
• Public Holidays Act.

Key external influences

Key external influences that affect the operations of OCPE are:

• community expectations and Government policy on employment and workforce development initiatives – to acquit the Government’s responsibility as the largest employer in the NT
• Australian Government industrial relations system and reform agenda – as the Northern Territory Self Government Act did not establish a Northern Territory industrial relations system.
• union activity, particularly in relation to the negotiation of workplace agreements.