About the author Michelle Grattan is chief political correspondent of The Conversation. She is a veteran of the Canberra press gallery and was previously political editor of The Age. Follow Michelle Grattan
Politicians not bureaucrats are the ones in touch, Scott Morrison claims in sports affair Thursday January 30, 2020 By Michelle Grattan Federal As the suspense over Bridget McKenzie’s future continues, Scott Morrison on Wednesday argued that in allocating public money, it’s politicians rather than officials who understand… Read more
Don’t practice ‘promiscuous partisanship’, former public service commissioner warns bureaucrats Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Michelle Grattan Features The relationship between ministers and the Australian public service has transformed from a partnership to one more like “master-servant”, with the “master” including the minister’s… Read more
Morrison can learn a lot from the public servants, but will he listen? Friday August 9, 2019 By Michelle Grattan Editors' Picks A government in office for any length of time needs a constantly evolving and innovative agenda, to which bureaucratic thought and expertise can contribute. Only… Read more
View from The Hill: NSW result gives federal Liberals a boost in the mind games Monday March 25, 2019 By Michelle Grattan New South Wales The Liberals would delude themselves if they took too much heart from NSW. But at a psychological level it will lift the spirits of their… Read more
Scott Morrison’s authority deficit on show at home and abroad Thursday November 29, 2018 By Michelle Grattan Editors' Picks The Liberals are shellshocked and unnerved after the Victorian rout and both the fact and implications of Julia Banks' desertion. Read more
The uncivil Mr Jones and the Opera House stoush Tuesday October 9, 2018 By Michelle Grattan Features The row over shock jock Alan Jones and what will be displayed on the Sydney Opera House sails about The Everest horse race involves two… Read more
New Treasury secretary rolls the dice on his future Tuesday July 17, 2018 By Michelle Grattan Editors' Picks As well as angering Labor, the installation of Phil Gaetjens has raised eyebrows in bureaucratic quarters. Read more
The loners who lead, and trash, ‘personality’ parties Friday June 15, 2018 By Michelle Grattan Features Let the voter beware. We may be in a “celebrity” age but personality parties, based around a “name” implode, explode, or fizzle. In the last… Read more
Young people, not employers, should choose super fund: Productivity Commission Tuesday May 29, 2018 By Michelle Grattan Features Young people entering the workforce should choose their own superannuation fund, rather than the present system of their employer selecting the fund for them, according… Read more
Gonski review attacks Australian schooling quality and urges individualised teaching Monday April 30, 2018 By Michelle Grattan The damning report says academic decline is widespread and “equivalent to a generation of Australian school children falling short of their full learning potential”. Read more
Border Force chief Roman Quaedvlieg’s future decided 'in weeks' Wednesday February 28, 2018 By Michelle Grattan News Now the Quaedvlieg matter has become so difficult that it has been handed to Attorney-General Christian Porter to make the call on his future. Questions have been… Read more
Closing the Gap results still lag, as Shorten pledges compensation fund for Stolen Generations Monday February 12, 2018 By Michelle Grattan News The government will hail this year’s outcome as the most promising result since 2011. Read more
Brandis suggests Joyce and Nash didn’t really make their ministerial decisions Tuesday October 31, 2017 By Michelle Grattan Features Was moving the APVMA to Armidale a ministerial decision, or a cabinet one? The Attorney General says the government will be looking very carefully at… Read more
The rift between Brandis and Dutton deepens as the Home Affairs behemoth rises Friday October 20, 2017 By Michelle Grattan Features As the public service head of the incoming Home Affairs portfolio, Michael Pezzullo will have to overcome more than just a bureaucratic turf war in… Read more
Budget to distinguish good and bad debt Thursday April 27, 2017 By Michelle Grattan News The federal budget will distinguish between “good” debt, incurred to boost growth, and “bad” debt, used to finance welfare and other recurrent spending, writes Michelle… Read more
