Record number of government bodies in Sydney’s 41st Mardi Gras
New South Wales government bodies turned out in record numbers for the 2019 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Read More
Author: Harley Dennett
A deeply committed state public sector bucks the trend after change of government
South Australia has never conducted a whole-of-government public sector employee survey before. The new premier's early approach to public servants may have led to an unexpected set of results. Read More
Machine-speed, human-inspired: the innovation pitch that rejects all the stereotypes of government
The Air Force is pitching a new innovation plan and asking industry to help it create a combined human-machine workforce of augmented intelligence: the creativity and flexibility of humans, and the tempo and accuracy of machines. Read More
Movers & shakers: treaties and tribunals
New commonwealth executive promotions as well as government board appointments and the first NT Treaty Commissioner. Read More
‘Politicisation of departments’ incidents boil over as opposition puts APS on notice
Public servants don’t need to read too deeply between the lines to get the message that the opposition is watching for signs of politicisation in… Read More
The CFO perspective on public service culture
As the public sector's chief finance officers are granted a permanent seat in the executive table, the finance function is being transformed from historian and compliance cop, to problem solver and enabler. Read More
Why does water administration require ‘cloak and dagger’ secrecy akin to ASIO?
'The MDBA doth protest too much, methinks,' writes Commissioner Bret Walker in a rebuke that drew upon the works of George Orwell and William Shakespeare to describe how bureaucrats twisted the language of transparency. Read More
AWS joins Australia’s ‘protected’ classification club
AWS, the cloud computing offshoot of Jeff Bezos' Amazon, is the latest of only six providers to have passed a series of requirements set by the Australian Signals Directorate to handle classified data. Read More
Criminal histories of Australian organised crime offenders
Organised crime offenders start later and the offences that bring them into a life of crime are typically more serious. Read More
New ‘federal ICAC’ announced: Commonwealth Integrity Commission will have oversight of APS, MPs and contractors
The Morrison government has announced its model for a federal anti-corruption body to be called the Commonwealth Integrity Commission, and proposed a new criminal offensive for public sector corruption. Read More
Movers & shakers: job sharing at the senior levels of the public sector
Formal job sharing for public sector senior executives does happen. Just not very often. The structure it can takes, and how permanent it can be is evolving beyond the straightforward cases. Read More
ICAC’s warning for senior NSW officials: how the modern workplace is incentivising misconduct
ICAC's first report aimed at senior New South Wales public officials warns that changes to the way government services are delivered have created opportunities for emerging corruption. Read More
APS is ageing fast, and its older employees most want to stay
Today's average federal public servant is female, 43-year-old, an APS 6 in a service delivery role in Canberra. She's been working for the APS for 11 years and never moved from her starting agency. Read More
Turnbull, Keating team up to rejuvenate the birthplace of Australia’s bureaucracy
Lucy Turnbull, former Sydney lord mayor, and Paul Keating, former prime minister, will work together to develop a long-term vision for the historic Macquarie Street East precinct. Read More
State of the Service 2018: Woolcott restores the APS data deep dive
Australian Public Service Commissioner Peter Woolcott has unchained his commission staff from the vapid 'streamlined' reports of recent years and let their deep expertise shine with the latest State of the Service Report, tabled today. Read More