What could go wrong when a top public servant moves to the big end of town?
Ken Henry's fall from pedestal to bed of nails was not even cushioned by the sterling contribution he previously made to the public service, says Verona Burgess. Read More
Jurisdiction
Home Affairs and ANAO at odds over citizenship report
The Auditor General has criticised Home Affairs for dragging its feet on citizenship processing, but the department refuses to concede. Read More
APRA capability review panel filled out with two former bankers
Former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission head Graeme Samuel will be joined by erstwhile Westpac executive Diane Smith-Gander and Grant Spencer, a former deputy governor… Read More
Indigenous evaluation findings: delayed publishing prevented contest of policy
The federal government has finally published a long-awaited evaluation report on the special work-for-the-dole scheme for remote communities, but it’s unclear where it fits into the policy process. Read More
How the Productivity Commission undermines scientific literacy in policy
The absence of a scientific foundation in the PC reports explains why the Australian government itself seems impervious to scientific warnings about the impending collapse of our natural systems. Read More
Is it really a myth that our data isn’t safe?
New legislation aims to expose the communications of serious criminals, but it might undermine our security too. Read More
Centrelink call centre stats show dramatic improvement, CPSU calls it a ‘con job’
The notoriously long average waiting times for Centrelink’s phone lines are “plummeting” after the outsourcing of several thousand extra operators, claims Minister for Human Services… Read More
Movers & shakers: Ken Henry moving on
A certain long-serving former Treasury secretary will soon be back on the market, with NAB Chair Ken Henry announcing he will leave the bank. Read More
Have your say: OECD group drafts commitments to public sector innovation
An OECD body is working on a declaration that would see signatories commit to public sector innovation, and help cement a better common understanding of what it actually means. Read More
Treasury review considers how to regulate the ‘wild west’ of blockchain start-ups
Do blockchain tokens have a place in a well-regulated economy as a way for start-ups to raise funds? Or are too many of these initial coin offerings turning out to be scams? Read More
Murray-Darling Basin Authority digs in against royal commission, full response weeks away
The MDBA’s five current members have resolved to rally around chief executive Phillip Glyde and continue denying the extremely serious findings of the SA royal commission, while they prepare a more comprehensive official response. Read More
Barriers to entry for startups striving to secure government contracts
There are initiatives to encourage the government to mandate more startups, but there’s still a “really strong barrier to entry”, says open-source intelligence startup WorldStack. Read More
Black Saturday: bushfire planning as our population grows
Bushfire planning around our expanding urban environments is crucial for dealing with Australia’s increasing bushfire risk. Read More
Royal commission recommendations: processes to ensure they are implemented
How realistic are the prospects of the Hayne Royal Commission’s 76 recommendations being implemented, ask Peter Wilkins and John Phillimore. Read More
Banking royal commission: soft enforcement link to regulatory capture
Culture, rather than rules, is the big problem at financial regulator ASIC, says Banking Royal Commission head Kenneth Hayne. Read More