Time to cut off the influence of the party’s ‘big swinging dicks’ and for PM to listen Thursday March 11, 2021 By Amber Schultz Editors' Picks The 'big swinging dicks' group might not exist any more, but its mentality is alive and well in the Liberal Party. Here's who's got it.
Opinion: The triumph of the lobbies — Australia’s revolving door and democracy Thursday February 18, 2021 By Binoy Kampmark Editors' Picks Former bureaucrats, public service officials and elected representatives rarely struggle with the conflict of interest issues that arise when lobby groups recruit them.
Plan to make Australia one of top 10 global defence exporters not backed by data, audit finds Monday September 14, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Defence The auditor general recommended Defence extend the strategy’s performance framework and develop an evaluation framework to measure and report on the achievement of overarching goal…
More than 40% of ex-Abbott government MPs have moved into public sector roles, analysis finds Tuesday July 21, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Twenty-six out of 57 Abbott-era MPs and senators who have lost their seat, retired, or lost preselection have since taken on positions in the public…
New think tank calls on national cabinet to tackle energy and climate policy Tuesday June 2, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins News A group of former ministerial advisors and ex-politicians has launched a think tank aiming to develop evidence-based pathways for reform in response to the new…
Parkinson’s investigation under fire, passed over to Gaetjens Monday September 30, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Federal The former secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has been criticised over his report into two former ministers, with a push…
Premium Columnists Deep links between the private sector and Defence have been to the nation’s benefit. But it’s complicated. The department has expanded its toolbox to manage this ‘revolving door’ Friday September 27, 2019 By Bernard Keane Career Advice Former government employees with defence-related skills will end up working in defence-related industries, and that's been a concern to some in the Australian community about…
Australia’s political lobbying regime is broken and needs urgent reform Wednesday September 11, 2019 By George Rennie Australian Capital Territory Recent jobs taken by former senior ministers Julie Bishop and Christopher Pyne have brought on ire of the Australian Senate, which is now concluding an…
Parkinson: 'I was never actually formally sacked' by Abbott but it sent a 'bad message' all the same Friday July 26, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Dr Martin Parkinson wants to make it clear for the record that he was never formally sacked as the secretary of the Treasury in 2013,…
Public servants hastily polish up the blue books as new Morrison ministry takes shape Wednesday May 22, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal A who's-who of the members in contention for Coalition ministerial positions in the days after the 2019 federal election.
Unexpected election result means public servants know what to expect Monday May 20, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal After an unexpected result in Saturday's federal election, members of the Australian Public Service have a good idea of what to expect going forward.
So long and thanks for all the fish: the oddly polite history of political farewells Monday May 13, 2019 By Scott Hamilton & Stuart Kells Career Advice Something strange happens when politicians leave the political stage. The other side suddenly becomes much more civil – even affectionate. There is an outbreak of…
Nothing to fear from 'business-like' efficiency: SA public service chief Jim McDowell Monday September 17, 2018 By Stephen Easton News 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…
Tom Burton: truth to power a victim of political turmoil Tuesday October 25, 2016 By Tom Burton Features If governments want frank advice to avoid the mistakes of projects like the NBN and the pink batts scheme, then ministers need to promote, not…
A policy delivery unit for innovation, with Ian Watt in charge Tuesday December 15, 2015 By David Donaldson Career Advice Innovation Minister Christopher Pyne has appointed the former head of PM&C Ian Watt to lead a new policy delivery unit aimed at implementing the government's…
