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
Opinion: the taint will not go away. Accused minister must stand aside Tuesday March 2, 2021 By Bernard Keane Career Matters There are no good ways to address the problem that a cabinet minister is accused of rape. The least worst option is for the man…
Twilight world of staffers makes for toxic, taxpayer-funded workplaces Wednesday February 17, 2021 By Bernard Keane Career Matters In political workplaces, protected by the same veil of non-accountability used by political parties, the risk of predation is always real.
Opinion: Trade deal with China was always useless, despite what our leaders wish us to believe Tuesday December 1, 2020 By Bernard Keane Economy & Industry Such bilateral trade agreements produce little economic benefit — and certainly nothing like the absurd claims made for them by politicians.
Opinion: What do Labor’s denialists know that the world’s biggest energy companies don’t? Monday November 16, 2020 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks As Labor lays itself bare over coal, the industry itself is dying before our eyes and the biggest companies want out before they're left with…
Opinion: Cormann leaves with pride — but also a question of what might have been Monday November 2, 2020 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks Mathias Cormann was the ballast of three successive governments and displayed a diligence and discipline rarely achieved by his colleagues.
Premium Columnists Questions – and answers – matter over the Leppington Triangle Friday October 23, 2020 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks What a signal to send — if you’re big enough and ugly enough to take the commonwealth to court over long periods, it will give…
Opinion: secret airport land deals set to expose rotten public service practices Wednesday October 21, 2020 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks The Leppington Triangle scandal is looming as one of the most damaging in decades — but for the bureaucracy, not for politicians.
A big-government, low-growth Australia sets sail on an ocean of red Tuesday October 6, 2020 By Bernard Keane Economy & Industry The government has committed not only to huge deficit spending, but also to pushing the size of government as a proportion of the economy to…
Spend, spend, spend — Frydenberg’s road to recovery relies on the Great Australian Binge Tuesday October 6, 2020 By Bernard Keane Economy & Industry The government is relying on middle- and high-income earners and business to spend up big for the economy.
Opinion: we need more strikes and more militancy to force wages growth Thursday October 1, 2020 By Bernard Keane Economy & Industry If unions were stronger, wages may not have stagnated and people might be willing to work in the horticulture industry.
Premium Columnists Departments still lacking on cyber security compliance Monday September 14, 2020 By Bernard Keane Communications & Technology The ASD says that even just implementing the Top Four cyber security control strategies, let alone the Essential Eight, can stop 85% of cyber attacks.
Opinion: aged care crisis shows a disaster waiting in workplace ‘flexibility’ Thursday August 6, 2020 By Bernard Keane Community & Social The Coalition wants to allow employers to impose short-hour contracts — precisely the cause of the tragic aged care sector scandal.
Premium Columnists Public sector workers unfairly facing wages freezes Monday July 27, 2020 By Bernard Keane Economy & Industry Public servants face further real wage cuts, with the federal government imposing a wage freeze and other governments announcing they want to follow suit. Not…
Opinion: reports expose examples of still getting the basics wrong Tuesday July 7, 2020 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks Lack of judgment and an inability to get the basics right over an extended period reflects poorly on a department that, given its portfolio responsibilities,…
Premium Columnists Staffing of ministerial offices needs total shakeup Monday June 22, 2020 By Bernard Keane Editors' Picks It may be worthwhile considering whether the Australia’s departure from the UK model is an experiment that needs to be evaluated, adjusted or reversed, writes…