The finance royal commissioner thinks Ken Henry just doesn’t seem to get it
The finance royal commission’s final report singles out NAB as the big-four bank that seems least willing to learn its lessons and accept responsibility for… Read More
Jurisdiction
Public service mutuals offer hope of higher quality care and support
PSMs are gaining traction with a group of Australian public sector workers having just formed a workers’ co-op to keep doing the same job, under contract from the government. Read More
Hayne’s failure to tackle bank structure spells another royal commission in a decade or so
While many of Kenneth Hayne's recommendations are laudable and absolutely necessary, they are not sufficient to end the regular cycle of appalling misconduct and inquiries. Read More
Murray-Darling plan a failure of evidence-based policy and co-operative federalism
Public servants are in the firing line of a caustic final report from the South Australian royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which found the federal agency at the centre of the agreement has acted unlawfully, on “dubious” advice from the Australian Government Solicitor. Read More
Why the federal government’s new integrity commission isn’t up to the job
Corrupt politicians and public servants will be under the spotlight of the new federal corruption watchdog. But if its proposed powers are any clue, it will have neither bark nor bite. Here's why. Read More
Infosec professionals join ACSC to improve national cyber resilience and, hopefully, policy
A new partnership between the federal government’s peak cyber security team and a professional association promises to improve cross-sector collaboration, and might also lead to more consideration of independent expertise in the development of public policy. Read More
Murray-Darling Basin report: failure to consult Indigenous groups
First Nations have been largely left out of water management in the Murray-Darling Basin, the royal commission into the management of the river system has found. Read More
Why does water administration require ‘cloak and dagger’ secrecy akin to ASIO?
'The MDBA doth protest too much, methinks,' writes Commissioner Bret Walker in a rebuke that drew upon the works of George Orwell and William Shakespeare to describe how bureaucrats twisted the language of transparency. Read More
Unchained: challenges ahead for the dismantled Uluru climb
To climb or not to climb? Visitors to Uluru will no longer face the decision after the walking track is closed on October… Read More
E-Day and the beauty parade: how two elections will impact the public service
Verona Burgess looks at how two critical elections could trigger another round of politically and personally favoured musical chairs at the top of the public service. Read More
Decentralisation, Labor style: permanent full-time jobs in regional Human Services hubs
The opposition has taken up the idea of public service decentralisation as a vehicle for regional development, but gone further than the government with a promise of 300 permanent full-time Human Services jobs based in North Queensland. Read More
Workplace bullying remains high among Tasmanian public servants
A recent survey of 8675 state public servants returned a mixed bag of results suggesting workplace bullying, stress and struggles to maintain a good work-life balance are persistent issues. Read More
Four APS inclusion strategies in the pipeline for 2019
The key to normalising inclusive work practices in the public service is through initiatives that are tangible, leader-led, team-based and responsive to the local challenges of each department’s 'social system'. Read More
Mark Dreyfus: new corruption watchdog must be ‘delicately designed’ and have strong teeth
One of the many questions that hinge on the result of this year's election is what kind of new anti-corruption measures will be put in place for federal politicians and public servants. Read More
Movers & shakers: defence scientist and assistant secretaries
Australia has a new Chief Defence Scientist, NSW's first Chief Information Security Officer is departing, Victoria is after a new chair for its Essential Services Commission, and there have been several new Assistant Secretary appointments at federal level. Read More