WA aims to establish Australian-first debarment regime News The Western Australian government is seeking the power to debar dodgy suppliers to protect and improve public procurement. If passed, the proposal would see WA… Read more
NSW planning department spent $1.2m on office plants Wednesday June 10, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins New South Wales The union representing public servants in New South Wales has questioned the Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment's decision to spend $1,246,000 on indoor plants… Read more
Opinion: federal agencies and watchdogs find their voice in the COVID era Wednesday June 10, 2020 By Scott Hamilton & Stuart Kells Editors' Picks Amid the biggest pandemic since the Spanish Flu, and the biggest economic calamity since the GFC, Australia’s top public institutions are showing their worth by… Read more
Kennedy takes blame for $60b JobKeeper error Wednesday June 10, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Economy & Industry The $60 billion JobKeeper overestimation was the result of errors in enrolment forms aligning with early estimates of the program’s take-up and cost, according to… Read more
ASIO boss Mike Burgess warns of rise of extremism in Australia during COVID-19 Tuesday June 9, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Australia's safety against security threats has weakened during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Mike Burgess. Read more
Premium Expert briefings Fran Tiplady: pandemic policy advisor making a difference Tuesday June 9, 2020 By The Mandarin Editors' Picks Fran Tiplady is manager, Public Health Response, Communicable Disease Prevention Unit, Public Health Services, Tasmanian Department of Health. Read more
Premium Expert briefings Dianne Stephens: pandemic policy advisor making a difference Tuesday June 9, 2020 By The Mandarin Editors' Picks Associate Professor Dianne Stephens is deputy chief health officer and director, Public Health Unit Directorate, Northern Territory Department of Health; and medical director, National Critical… Read more
Opinion: the National Cabinet has been a success so far, but it must adhere to four principles if it is to continue to be effective Tuesday June 9, 2020 By Daniel D’Hotman Australian Capital Territory Australians are ambitious for what the National Cabinet can achieve. But it must be vigilant against the risk that effective federal and state cooperation will… Read more
NDIS Quality and Safeguards boss to be granted stronger powers Tuesday June 9, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Community & Social The bureaucrat charged with regulating National Disability Insurance Scheme providers has been granted powers to protect participants under the scheme. The NDIS Amendment (Strengthening Banning… Read more
‘The greatest opportunity’: DPC head Chris Eccles on Victoria’s data-driven COVID response and challenging conventions Friday June 5, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins News The coronavirus pandemic has spurred the Victorian Public Service to come up with innovative ways of delivering services that will likely last into the future,… Read more
COVID inquiry: ex Liberal Party pollster won $500,000 contract without tender, Nev Power addresses conflicts of interest Friday June 5, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Economy & Industry Members of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission have made conflicts of interest declarations to the PM&C, but they won't be made public. Read more
Former senior public servants to hand out subpoenas to SA government agency and corruption watchdog Thursday June 4, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins News Two ex public servants plan to issue subpoenas to their former South Australian government employer and the state corruption watchdog. Ex Renewal SA chief executive… Read more
Home Affairs’ new border processing system uses facial and fingerprint recognition Thursday June 4, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal The new Enterprise Biometric Identification Services system launched on Wednesday would improve Home Affairs' ability to identify criminals and 'persons of national security interest' via… Read more
Returning to the office? Comcare gives tips on APS transition plans Thursday June 4, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Agencies must be prepared to support public servants who are returning to their usual workplaces by considering a range of measures such as staggered hours… Read more
Premium Trends and research SMEs are ditching cash, as coronavirus fast-tracks a shift that will fundamentally change how they do business Thursday June 4, 2020 By Matthew Elmas Economy & Industry It is unlikely that cash is going to completely disappear anytime soon, but as businesses start to plan their way out of pandemic trading, the… Read more
