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Census finds public servants overworked, risk burnout

By Melissa Coade

Careers

Here's a detailed breakdown of how APS departments responded to their employee census questions on capacity and burnout.

Ex Agriculture department employee sentenced for abuse of public office

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

The District Court of NSW has sentenced former biosecurity officer Jarrod Entwistle to 23 months of imprisonment. He has also been fined $10,000 with 500…

Agriculture department reviewing $13m overspend on water buyback

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

Grant Hehir has asked Agriculture, Water and the Environment the reason behind its $80 million purchase of a water buyback in 2017.

Government trialling machine learning tech to detect pests at shipping ports

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

The software works in all environments 24/7, identifying pests in real-time. Not only does it identify pests, it explains its reason for the identification and…

Samuel review: ‘Outdated’ environmental laws must consider Indigenous knowledge

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

Current environmental laws do not fully support the rights of Indigenous Australians in decision-making, reflecting a 'culture of tokenism and symbolism' rather than inclusion, the…

States partner with commonwealth to boost recycling infrastructure

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

The South Australian and Victorian governments will increase the capacity and capability of recycling infrastructure in their states by funding new projects under a deal…

Australian Conservation Foundation audit of FOI requests finds environment minister, dept & agencies stifling access

By Chris Woods

Editors' Picks

Environment minister Sussan Ley refused outright 39 freedom of information requests in the last financial year, while granting just one in full and three in…

Parks Australia reshuffles management after no-confidence declaration

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

Three federal public servants responsible for Australia’s national parks have resigned. A reshuffle will attempt to rebuild Parks Australia's relationship with the traditional owners of…

From science to film festivals: life as a public servant in Antarctica

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

Taking up a diverse role outside of Canberra can be a rewarding and 'fascinating' experience for Australian Public Service employees, according to Matt Williams, station…

Departments celebrated for ‘thinking differently’ at 2020 Public Sector Innovation Awards

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

Full list of winners within.

Australia’s 20-year-old environmental laws ‘ineffective’, review finds

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

The federal government has rejected the call for an independent regulator to monitor compliance and enforcement of Australia’s environmental laws, stating it would add unnecessary…

Agriculture department had no plan to maximise value for money of Murray-Darling water purchases, audit finds

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

The former Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' handling of Murray-Darling strategic water buybacks was not “fully effective”, the national auditor-general has found.

Services Australia’s bilateral agreements with agencies ‘largely effective’, ANAO finds

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

Services Australia and other federal government entities must improve risk management, specifying roles and responsibilities, and performance measurement when managing agreements, according to the national…

Four departments and five secretaries cut while one returns, as PM reshapes the public service

By Stephen Easton

Federal

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled a massive Australian Public Service shake-up, which will see five secretaries out of their jobs, after a morning of…