How managerial compassion can boost performance
Compassion is an awkward word in the rationalist world of public administration, but a new study suggests it can improve burnout and even citizen satisfaction. Read More
Editors’ Picks
As work gets more ambiguous, younger generations may be less equipped for it
Generations Y and Z want interesting and novel work, but research indicates they lack the skills and confidence required to manage uncertainty when it occurs. Read More
Why are teachers mostly female? Because men get better pay in other professions
For women with a bachelor of arts degree, teaching is one of the highest paying jobs. The opposite is true for men. Read More
Towards a universal Style Manual
The Digital Transformation Agency plans to improve the Australian Government's writing style manual. Great. Can I help? Read More
Why we need to stop paying executives for performance
There is an element of self-serving circularity in the arguments used to justify high executive salaries. But lowering the ceilings on SES pay could be a step to re-energising 'frank and fearless' policymaking. Read More
Blurring the lines: when conflicted mandates undermine agency performance
Being given the task of both regulating and promoting the same industry is a recipe for frustrated staff and poor performance. What can agencies do about conflicting mandates? Read More
When it comes to company tax, we are a high-tax country, because it works well for us
On one measure our company tax rate is the third-highest, but we like it that way because it allows us to give big tax refunds to local shareholders, many of them retirees. Read More
Will 2019 be the year of the watchdog?
One of the most compelling areas of public administration demanding attention this year is the role of regulation and oversight across government, says Verona Burgess. Read More
Pyramid v Sparrow: the key to enforcing effective regulation
Two classic regulatory approaches. But where does the biggest bang for the regulatory buck lie? Is it in education or in punishment? Read More
It’s not just the isolation. Working from home has surprising downsides
Stress, troubled sleep and interrupted family time are some of the little-known downsides from working from home. Read More
Empowering our senior public servants with political skills
Could political skills re-empower the public service to deliver on efficient, effective and ethical government? What’s at stake is the very belief that the public service can add value, writes former state premier Geoff Gallop. Read More
Can markets do the job of regulators?
There are four common types of market failures that support a call for regulatory intervention. Three of these were identifiable during the Banking Royal Commission, writes law school head and regulation expert Dr Benedict Sheehy. Read More
Home Affairs secretary fears cyber doom; critics say he made it more likely
Viewed through the prism of military analogy, as is favoured by Home Affairs boss Michael Pezzullo, the growing cyber threats is a war with no established doctrine. Is cyber martial law the answer? Read More
Engaging Victoria – can a platform increase government legitimacy?
Key points: People need to understand what influence they have over the policymaking process The Victorian government are taking citizen engagement to a… Read More
Protecting our digital heritage in the age of cyber threats
Digital identity assets, such as property records and Parliamentary proceedings, embody who and what Australia is as a nation. We need to do more to protect them. Read More