Marshmallows, leadership and moral courage
We need to think about a new type of leadership, and redistribution of power, says Kristy Muir, CEO of the Centre for Social Impact. Read More
Thought Leadership
Central agencies: part of the problem, part of the solution?
Two recent Western Australian reviews of public administration included discussion relating to the performance and capacity of central agencies. A look at the concerns raised in these reviews. Read More
Contract negotiation: why the public sector needs to drive a hard bargain
In 2017, the federal government executed $47bn of new contracts. Negotiating a 1% reduction would have saved $470m, almost half a billion dollars. Read More
Big data is here, let’s handle it responsibly
A balance is possible between the safe and effective use of nationalised data to inform important government decisions -- without compromising sensitive information. Australian Statistician David Kalisch on how and why that balance matters. Read More
The information that democracy needs
LONG READ: Without a decent flow of information in this popular democracy, how can we have anything like our “equal share” in its power, asks Bret Walker SC in the Whitlam Oration 2018. Read More
Maintaining values in market-based care: reflections from Victoria
Tom Keating traces the evolution of a new paradigm for the management of human services in Victoria, the challenges it may pose for service providers and some strategies that might be useful in addressing them. Read More
Who’s in charge as AI invades the workplace?
Artificial intelligence has quietly invaded our workplaces. So do we have a handle on the technology? Read More
Beyond deference: creating truly innovative public sector leadership
Structures based on hierarchy and a workplace culture based on deference are the enemies of organisational success and need to be dismantled, says Robin Ryde. Read More
Preparing Australian cities for the fourth industrial revolution
This is a slightly edited version of a speech by Martin Parkinson, secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to the Property Council of Australia… Read More
A crisis in governance: impetus to better economic and social performance?
What do the explosive corporate governance failures exposed by the Royal Commission, the APRA report on CBA, and AMP’s shocking executive behaviours tell us about the future of leadership in the public service? Read More
Why organisation leaders need to embrace fear
CEOs who acknowledge and act upon vulnerability and fear are most likely to appear authentic. Acknowledging that we are works in progress, allows for others to relate to us and support us. Read More
Overcoming our mistrust of robots in our homes and workplaces
Australia's chief scientist Alan Finkel explains why we want rules that allow us to trust artificial intelligence and the role that Australia can play in setting global standards. Read More
It’s time to put consumers in the driver’s seat in Big Data economy
If the public doesn't feel it can say no, all the privacy policies and terms and conditions can't solve society's data governance woes. Read More
Architecture and power: how to fix Australia’s Parliament House
To mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of Australian Parliament House Professor Kim Dovey, Chair of Architecture and Urban Design, University of Melbourne and specialist in the politics of public space, explains how buildings shape politics. Could neighbours help reconnect politics with the polis? Read More
How we can avoid Day Zero in Australia
Cape Town's Day Zero has been postponed until 2019, but the threat remains. Australian cities could easily find themselves running dry like Cape Town without proper planning. Read More