Andrew Barr | People | The Mandarin

Palaszczuk, Barr want changes to COVID-19 exemptions for diplomats

By Shannon Jenkins

Australian Capital Territory

The leaders made the calls on Monday after Queensland’s chief health officer Jeannette Young said that the state’s only new case of COVID-19 was a consular…

Op-ed: in Canberra, three decisions in 25 years

By Michael Easson

Australian Capital Territory

Reflecting on a quarter of a century as a director of ACT government corporations Dr Michael Easson AM, discusses the role of boards and the…

Staff cuts to National Gallery ‘reckless and hurtful’, says Barr

By Shannon Jenkins

Australian Capital Territory

The CPSU on Tuesday said the decision was due to a $3.6 million funding shortfall, and flagged the possibility of further cuts following a three-week…

ACT, Queensland, SA follow national cabinet’s lead on lifting COVID-19 restrictions

By Shannon Jenkins

Australian Capital Territory

Several jurisdictions have announced their plans to relax coronavirus restrictions, shortly after the prime minister revealed national cabinet’s three-step roadmap for getting Australia back to…

ACT introduces fines for defying gathering restrictions

By Shannon Jenkins

Australian Capital Territory

Canberrans who don't follow the latest restrictions on gatherings could be fined up to $8000 under a new direction from the chief health officer Dr…

States and territories implement measures for latest gathering restrictions

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

The federal government’s new restrictions on gatherings has come into effect, with states and territories taking different approaches to enforce it.

APS staff working from offices while rest of Australia stays home

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

Mixed messages regarding working arrangements during the coronavirus pandemic have left Australian Public Service employees, their union, and even politicians confused and concerned.

Barr to take concerns over APS flexible work to National Cabinet

By Shannon Jenkins

Australian Capital Territory

On Wednesday morning chief minister Andrew Barr told ABC News he was concerned that many APS employees have continued to work from their offices rather…

ACT stimulus package to keep Canberrans in jobs, says Barr

By Shannon Jenkins

Australian Capital Territory

Government fees and charges will be frozen and the health sector will receive extra funding under the ACT government’s $137 million stimulus package.

Concern over chief minister’s land agency resurfaces with referral to integrity commission

By Shannon Jenkins

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has landed at the centre of the territory’s first potential Integrity Commission investigation. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts has…

ACT Chief Minister: new Integrity Commission 'sends a message' to public service leaders

By Stephen Easton

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT’s new integrity and anti-corruption commission will begin operating from July 1 next year, with senior public servants subject to new mandatory reporting rules…

The politics of pill testing: even the ACT Chief Minister is over it

By Stephen Easton

Health

Australia's first trial of pill testing at a music festival has come and gone but opponents are still arguing that it means the government is…

Push vs pull: national FOI stats paint a blurry picture of open government

By Stephen Easton

Communications & Technology

Not all freedom of information laws are created equal, which makes comparing the transparency of different systems across Australia rather difficult. States that proactively publish…

ACT counts the dividends of efficiency, and the cost of efficiency dividends

By Stephen Easton

Economy & Industry

This week's ACT Budget lists a range of efforts to save money in the public service, from property management to procurement reform and general efficiency…

Decentralisation: 'ideologically driven Canberra bashing'

By Stephen Easton

Economy & Industry

When Victoria tried public sector decentralisation, it hit a snag. The federal government is moving ahead anyway with agencies preparing to depart Canberra. But will…