Be bold enough to be introspective for change Features Be bold for change was the theme for International Women’s Day this year. It had me thinking about what it means to be bold. Generally, we think of
Treasury secretary makes business case for more interstate presence June 20, 2016 By Harley Dennett Economy & Industry The Commonwealth Treasury’s decision to open an office in Sydney almost a year ago has been vindicated with almost half the local staff members arriving as new blood
Ex-public servants can now keep adding to PPSap super for life May 5, 2016 By Stephen Easton Career Advice Federal public servants can now stay in the Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan after they leave Commonwealth employment. The budget papers say the change will
What if the crowd forecast the economy for Treasury? April 8, 2016 By Nicholas Gruen & Nick Kamper Economy & Industry We shoot the breeze about who’ll win the next election or footy match. Virtually none of it helps predict the future. But we’re driven on … as if somehow it will.
Brave new tax world: devolution back on the COAG agenda March 31, 2016 By Stephen Easton Economy & Industry Federation reform and its central issue — taxation — will dominate tomorrow’s Council of Australian Governments meeting, which will discuss a proposal to let states
Turnbull's bombshell: budget moved, double dissolution date set March 21, 2016 By The Mandarin News The federal government has brought forward its budget to May 3. The decision was not shared with Cabinet colleagues — never mind Treasury — until the
Economic forecasting: is Treasury losing its memory? March 9, 2016 By David Donaldson Economy & Industry The federal government relies on Treasury’s macroeconomic forecasting to create a sustainable budget, but those predictions have been out for several years now. High turnover,
Keane: after years of decline, who'll rescue the public service? February 12, 2016 By Bernard Keane Features There are public service bungles, of various scales, under every government. No public administration is ever perfect, no matter the government. But the Australian public
Decentralisation: 'ideologically driven Canberra bashing' February 11, 2016 By Stephen Easton Economy & Industry Three of the federal government’s agricultural research bodies will move out of Canberra as instruments of regional development and to be closer to the industries
Events in February: UK cabinet lessons, WA policy talk, women and leadership January 29, 2016 By The Mandarin Jurisdiction There’s never much on in January but February offers a range of interesting events for people with an interest in the public sector. Lesson from
John Fraser: what is structural budget balance? January 29, 2016 By John Fraser Economy & Industry No budget ever satisfies everybody. The world, and Australia, are not short of people who have become budget experts. There will always be a wide
The cross-border taskforce reviving housing policy January 18, 2016 By Stephen Easton Community & Social The cost of shelter is too high for a large segment of the Australian public, and there is widespread agreement that a national compact between
Two departments, two decisions on releasing 'blue books' December 21, 2015 By Stephen Easton Culture Two central departments of the Commonwealth government, two different decisions on what parts of their “blue books” can be released. First, Treasury. In response to
Ian Watt carried the message to sack Martin Parkinson December 8, 2015 By David Donaldson News Ian Watt’s wife Lorraine had to move out of the department he was transferred across to lead — not once but twice — he’s revealed