Movers & shakers: if not gender quotas, how well did targets work?
Change afoot in the intelligence and capability group at the Department of Home Affairs. Read More
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Digital identity brand confusion: do you know your GovPass from your myGovID?
If you've ever found yourself quietly wondering what exactly federal officials mean when they throw around brand names like GovPass and myGovID, you're not alone, but thankfully the Digital Transformation Agency has now provided some clarification. Read More
Performance reporting progress ‘too slow’, PGPA Act review finds
Commonwealth entities are improving their performance reporting but leadership is required to make sure they go beyond mere compliance, argues the final report of the PGPA Act review. Read More
Au pairs inquiry: calls for a federal ICAC, and better record-keeping at Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs has not escaped criticism from the opposition-dominated Senate committee that investigated its minster, Peter Dutton, while a leading public sector integrity expert agrees with the government senators that the "shambolic" inquiry was not the right way to probe the allegations. Read More
Citizens’ jury endorses public sector gender quotas
A citizens' jury has given the thumbs up to gender quotas for public sector leadership positions, though not without some dissent. Read More
Indigenous Affairs’ latest shakeup brings in a former military chief
A shakeup inside Australia's federal Indigenous Affairs bureaucracy will see its top official, Andrew Tongue, replaced with the recently retired Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Ray Griggs. Read More
Frances Adamson on Australia’s plan to ride out Donald Trump’s trade war with China
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Frances Adamson briefed business leaders yesterday as the trade war between the United States and China heats up, and said the government needs their support in defending a system of rules for international trade. Read More
State of open government: vacancies, rankings, and the day democracy went silent
News roundup from the transparency and integrity sector Open Government Forum vacancies Nominations are now being sought from individuals to fill up to seven civil society… Read More
900,000 individuals opting-out of My Health Record was ‘far lower than we were expecting’
Private insurance and health companies won't be categorically excluded from applying for access to the My Health Records data, but won't be able to use it for commercial purposes. Read More
National cities plan needed for a growing Australia, argues major report
Australia needs a national plan to encourage denser, better connected and more sustainable cities, argues a major parliamentary committee report. Among its many recommendations are two new ministers, a statutory office and high speed rail. Read More
What the new Australian Digital Council discussed
The new Australian Digital Council confirmed the first priorities for data sharing between state, territory and federal agencies are digital identity projects and longitudinal research on children who have spent time in foster care. Read More
‘Known limitations’ in NSW premier’s priorities
NSW's 12 premier's priorities face the same problems seen in other performance target regimes, notes Auditor General Margaret Crawford. Read More
Nothing to fear from ‘business-like’ efficiency: SA public service chief Jim McDowell
South Australian public servants have nothing to fear from their new chief’s mission to run the bureaucracy more like a business, according to a profile… Read More
Movers & shakers: what’s the go with the CIO?
Change afoot in the intelligence and capability group at the Department of Home Affairs. Read More
SA government open-minded about giving public servants superannuation choice
South Australian public servants would get to choose their own superannuation funds like most Australians under a bill drafted by an upper house cross-bencher, and the government appears open-minded about the idea. Read More