In launching the State Plan, A New Direction for NSW, the Premier, Morris Iemma, has signalled a new way of working for the NSW Government. The Plan sets out 14 long term social, economic and environmental goals for the State, highlights 34 priority areas for action and sets out 60 measurable targets against which progress can be judged. The Plan is for ten years, longer than two terms of government, in itself a major shift away from the short term policy focus that has traditionally hampered a big picture approach to funding and delivering services. It is also a Plan that has engaged in public consultation, short though the period of consultation was at just five weeks, and has promised regular public review every 2-3 years. NCOSS has consistently called on the Government to adopt a measurable approach to its own performance across key portfolio areas and welcomes this long term commitment to both adopting a targeted approach and to making the process a public and transparent one. NCOSS has prepared a response to the State Plan.