About the author Bernard Keane is the politics editor at Crikey based in Canberra. He was formerly a senior public servant in various federal departments. Follow Bernard Keane
Premium Columnists The cult of the consultant Monday May 11, 2020 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks I’ve been criticising the rise and rise of consultants for some years now because they represent not just a problem for the public service but… Read more
Premium Columnists David Gruen and the ABS’s overhaul of its jobs data-gathering will give us current information to act on Tuesday April 21, 2020 By Bernard Keane Appointing Dr David Gruen as the Australian Statistician has turned out to be one of the better and most farsighted appointments this government and its… Read more
Premium Columnists Old fiscal ideas are back, along with whatever creative new policies the public service can devise Tuesday April 14, 2020 By Bernard Keane Economy & Industry The government's discovery that public servants aren’t good merely for implementing its diktats has got to stick in the craw of a government whose signature… Read more
Premium Columnists Has the virus caught the APS out on business continuity? Monday March 30, 2020 By Bernard Keane Communications & Technology Bernard Keane quickly surveyed major government departments on their readiness for remote working. His findings suggests some are not ready — yet — for the… Read more
Premium Columnists The mega department is back, and with it age-forgotten challenges. Executives must learn to manage division synergies, multiple ministers and diverging agendas Tuesday December 10, 2019 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks Coordinating a coherent seamless departmental response in a mega organisation means getting people out of their silos and thinking beyond their usual remit. It can’t… Read more
Premium Columnists Deep links between the private sector and Defence have been to the nation’s benefit. But it’s complicated. The department has expanded its toolbox to manage this ‘revolving door’ Friday September 27, 2019 By Bernard Keane Defence Former government employees with defence-related skills will end up working in defence-related industries, and that's been a concern to some in the Australian community about… Read more
Premium Columnists You cannot administer government policy and relentlessly criticise it online. Governments, whatever you think of them, have to be able to trust public servants Tuesday August 13, 2019 By Bernard Keane Features The High Court got it right in the Michaela Banerji case, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t overdue for a serious rethink about public servants… Read more
Premium Columnists The key to coexisting peacefully and effectively with political staffers is simple: each of you should understand the other's role Tuesday July 23, 2019 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks As every public servant knows, advisers on both sides of politics range from highly competent, agreeable people who work collaboratively with the bureaucracy, to rabid… Read more
Hell hath no fury like a senior public servant scorned Tuesday September 11, 2018 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks The trouble Roman Quaedvlieg is causing for his former political master is testament to why it's a good idea to look after public servants you… Read more
Keane: after years of decline, who'll rescue the public service? Friday February 12, 2016 By Bernard Keane Features OPINION: A former Canberra SES gives a stinging assessment of a "toxic mix of incompetence and politicisation" in the federal public service. Is it… Read more
AEC political donations data: Abbott costs Liberals Monday February 1, 2016 By Bernard Keane News Political pundits are poring over the annual political donation data dump from the Australian Electoral Commission today. Crikey reports Tony Abbott's unpopular prime ministership cost… Read more
ABS wants to retain personal data from next Census Wednesday January 27, 2016 By Bernard Keane News The ABS is pressing ahead with plans to retain names and addresses obtained in the 2016 census despite having commissioned advice warning against it a… Read more
Bernard Keane: speaking power to truth in Briggs affair Wednesday January 6, 2016 By Bernard Keane Features Protecting the anonymity of whistleblowers is critical. Malcolm Turnbull’s failure to conduct an inquiry into the Jamie Briggs scandal rewards those who have used their… Read more
Whistleblower protections for public servants among best in G20 Thursday September 11, 2014 By Bernard Keane News Whistleblower protections for the public sector in Australia are among the best in the G20. But it's still difficult for public servants to leak anonymously. Read more
How the ANAO ended up costing taxpayers billions in lost revenue Thursday August 14, 2014 By Bernard Keane News The fuel fight facing Joe Hockey today was born from a political solution in 2001. One bureaucrat remembers how staffers frantically fed the Howard government. Read more
