Home Affairs leaders know they must build staff morale, but see slight uplift ‘from a low base’ Federal Senior executives at the Department of Home Affairs know they need to do a lot of work to build morale and confidence in their leadership…
New law gives NZ police discretion not to prosecute drug users, but to offer addiction support instead Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Max Abbott Editors' Picks New Zealand passed the Misuse of Drugs Amendment into law last month, giving police discretion to take a health-centred approach rather than prosecuting those in…
World Suicide Prevention Day: Australia and NZ show leadership Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Australian leaders have discussed suicide prevention in the wake of "alarming" new research, while the New Zealand government has announced a new Suicide Prevention Office.
What the government is (and isn’t) doing to slash energy bills Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Matthew Elmas Energy & Environment There’s been no shortage of attention on small business energy bills over the last 18 months, amid myriad complaints from local entrepreneurs about rising bill prices…
Don’t practice ‘promiscuous partisanship’, former public service commissioner warns bureaucrats Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Michelle Grattan Features The relationship between ministers and the Australian public service has transformed from a partnership to one more like “master-servant”, with the “master” including the minister’s…
Public servants urged to give feedback on new data sharing legislation Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Communications & Technology Public servants have a chance to give their opinions on the development of new public sector data sharing and release legislation. The government has released…
Older Windows systems must be patched to avert another computer worm outbreak: ACSC Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Stephen Easton Australian Capital Territory The Australian Cyber Security Centre warns it is way past patching time for all users of Windows 7, Vista or XP, as well as Windows…
NT Chief Minister denies pay freeze is fuelling high executive turnover Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Stephen Easton News The Northern Territory government is confident its executive pay freeze will not lead to significant turnover in the upper ranks of the public sector, mainly…
SA public servant charged with breaching ICAC confidentiality law Tuesday September 10, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins News A former employee of Renewal SA has been charged with breaching secrecy laws set out by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, according to Commissioner Bruce…
New Chief Customer and Digital Officer to improve services for Queenslanders Monday September 9, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Communications & Technology The Queensland government has created a new role to look after local businesses and keep the state up to date with changing global technology. The…
There’s an obvious reason wages aren’t growing, but you won’t hear it from Treasury or the Reserve Bank Monday September 9, 2019 By David Peetz Economy & Industry Wages growth for Australian workers is among the worst in the industrialised world. For more than a third of workers on individual contracts, wages aren’t…
Premium Insights and analysis Data sharing reforms are taking shape and federal agencies need to get up to speed. Expect new powers, new responsibilities and cultural change Monday September 9, 2019 By Stephen Easton Communications & Technology Federal agencies would be empowered to share the contents of publicly owned databases more widely under proposed reforms, but only to support better government policy…
One cross-sector team prevails at the DHS cyberwar games, but everyone’s a winner Monday September 9, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Australians can have confidence that, in the event of a major cyber-attack, the Australian government and private organisations can work together effectively to stop hackers…
Government wants community input on cybersecurity strategy Monday September 9, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Communications & Technology The public has until November to have their say on the development of a new national cybersecurity strategy. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton launched the consultation…
Thodey review #2 told to imagine a ‘bottom-up’ federation that rewards reformist governments Monday September 9, 2019 By Stephen Easton Economy & Industry The Berejiklian government says state governments should be rewarded for pursuing economic reform and given back a measure of their sovereignty through reforms to federal…