Thawley backs a 'G2' but is China ready or willing to lead? Features Four questions formed the basis for an interesting panel session at the Crawford Australian Leadership Forum in Canberra yesterday and “like a good bureaucrat”, as
FOI laws: fixing the chilling effect on frank advice June 18, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features While freedom of information laws are designed to promote transparency and accountability, they also turn full and accurate record-keeping from a standard responsibility into a
Bad boss? Bureaucrats defend 'bully' Rudd June 17, 2015 By Harley Dennett News ABC’s The Killing Season last night continued reporter Sarah Ferguson’s forensic autopsy of the Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard governments in its second episode, in which social
The Killing Season: rise of the public servant PM June 10, 2015 By Harley Dennett News “What are we going to do now?” one of Rudd’s Labor colleagues remembers hearing as, for the first time, a former top bureaucrat becomes Australia’s prime
Terry Moran: what does Australia's ranking slump really mean? May 29, 2015 By Terry Moran Features “Animal spirits” was the phrase that John Maynard Keynes used to remind us that economic decisions are often made for intuitive reasons, rather than the
'We're not there to be popular': Treasury boss John Fraser May 18, 2015 By David Donaldson News Increased transparency from the expansion of freedom of information “has made people extremely careful in the public service about what they put on paper” thinks
What happens when Dr Karl talks and public servants don't? May 15, 2015 By David Donaldson News There’s “very much a black hole in the public mind” about what the public service does, says University of Melbourne political communication expert Associate Professor Sally Young.
Tom Burton: Joe puts away the cigars May 12, 2015 By Tom Burton Features Gone was the hubris of early government and in the first ever dual Budget lock up press conference, Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias
Tom Burton: Why Dr Karl did Treasury a big favour April 17, 2015 By Tom Burton Editors' Picks Dr Karl went rogue this week, upsetting Treasury’s first big foray into digital engagement, but injecting some much needed real opinion into the Challenge of
Statistical anomaly? Treasury's David Gruen to PM&C, not ABS September 17, 2014 By Stephen Easton News Media reports insisted Dr David Gruen would become the next chief statistician. Instead, he’s turned up in Prime Minister and Cabinet as a deputy secretary
Tom Burton: digital dog days as government gap exposed August 10, 2014 By Tom Burton Features If last week’s headlines around metadata and the National Broadband Network suggest anything, it is the need to sharply lift the digital governmental game. As
