Nothing to fear from ‘business-like’ efficiency: SA public service chief Jim McDowell
South Australian public servants have nothing to fear from their new chief’s mission to run the bureaucracy more like a business, according to a profile… Read More
SA Department of Premier and Cabinet
SA Premier appoints first new mandarin, eyes NZ-style public service KPIs
The South Australian premier has found a permanent replacement for one of four chief executives he sacked shortly after coming into office, and now plans to set a series of public performance targets for government agencies. Read More
Integrity optional: bureaucrats behaving badly
Public administration in Australia is, for the most part, done by the book. But there are exceptions, with a few big stories hitting the headlines recently across the country. Read More
Don Russell takes top SA public sector job
Kym Winter-Dewhirst has bowed out from the top public service job in SA for family reasons, with former Keating adviser Dr Don Russell taking over. Read More
Citizens’ juries to consider SA’s nuclear future
Two citizens' juries will consider whether SA should host an international nuclear waste dump. Jay Weatherill hopes consultations will lead to an "informed discussion" on the future of nuclear. Read More
‘Adviserous horribilis’: MP unloads on political staffers
Fat, lazy Arts dropouts ... advisers — or "snouts" — have spread like myxomatosis, says bureaucrat-turned-MP David Speirs. Beyond the hyperbole, he tells The Mandarin they threaten frank and fearless advice. Read More
The Open State: SA plans a melting pot of public innovation, transparency
Public servants from across Australia will be among the 10,000 people coming to Adelaide for a 10-day program called Open State later this year. It will kick off with the IPAA national conference. Read More
Kym Winter-Dewhirst’s hot desk — open plan, open mind
South Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet's new open plan office fit-out was officially opened last month, and the state's top mandarin hopes other departments will follow his lead. Read More
Agencies struggle on indigenous quota, PM&C can’t get rid of theirs
Stan Grant used his Press Club address to raise the dearth of indigenous public servants, while states and territories lift their targets. But there's one federal agency that can't get enough Aboriginal staff to accept redundancies. Read More
Event: Mark Moore on how to measure public value
The Harvard academic who authored the seminal management text, Creating Public Value: Strategic Management in Government, will hold talks for public sector leaders in Adelaide and Melbourne next week. Read More
Spreading health awareness — with glitter and a camera
Don't discount your whacky ideas — even if they involve disguising a medical apparatus as a glittery crocodile to encourage women to get regular pap smears. Big ideas from a South Australian innovator. Read More
Public sector leaders throwing open the doors
PM&C boss Michael Thawley really has a problem with locked doors in public administration. He's not alone, with state leaders also wanting change. Read More
SA government and IPAA state branch partner up
The South Australian branch of the Institute of Public Administration has formalised its role as a provider of professional development for state government departments and agencies. The agreement between IPAA South Australia and the Senior Management Council which includes all chief executives of major government agencies of the SA government funds professional development programs and key events and forums hosted by IPAA SA The chair of SMC, Department of the Premier and Cabinet chief executive Kym Winter-Dewhirst said: “We acknowledge the important role that IPAA plays in the provision of professional development opportunities and thought leadership events many of which align with the key priorities of the state government”. Read More