Committee calls for ‘substantial change’ within Environment department in scathing report Wednesday August 25, 2021 By Shannon Jenkins Energy & Environment The Joint Statutory Committee on Public Accounts and Audit has released its report on its inquiry into the regulatory activities of five agencies, including DAWE.
Encrypted messages are ‘grey area’ in record-keeping requirements, David Fricker says Thursday April 15, 2021 By Shannon Jenkins Communications & Technology The National Archives of Australia has sought legal advice on the “pressing issue” of public servants using encrypted messaging platforms to conduct official business.
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.
PM&C hires ex ONI boss Nick Warner as consultant Monday February 15, 2021 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Nick Warner has been appointed as counsellor to political and strategic advisory firm Dragoman, while also being engaged by the Department of the Prime Minister…
‘Blowtorch on failures’: Parliamentary Committee to examine ‘sloppy record keeping’ and APS culture through ANAO reports Thursday November 12, 2020 By Matthew Elmas News A Parliamentary Committee will examine ten highly critical Auditor-General reports for clues about how the public service can improve.
Big Four consultancy firms receive $640m a year to perform ‘day-to-day’ public service jobs Wednesday June 17, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Labor MP Julian Hill has called for an inquiry into what he describes as 'privatisation of Australia’s public service by stealth'.
Labor questions $1.2b ‘blowout’ on consultancy contracts Friday March 13, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Over the course of the decade to 2018–19, the government spent more than $490 billion on procurement contracts.
New secretaries for Infrastructure and Environment departments Friday November 8, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins News Two new secretaries have been appointed to lead the Australian Public Service. David Fredericks has been appointed to lead the Department of the Environment and…
National Archives budget at ‘breaking point’ as agency looks to David Tune for relief Wednesday November 6, 2019 By Stephen Easton Communications & Technology The federal opposition says the National Archives lacks the resources to lead major reforms to information management practices in the Australian Public Service due to…
For those on the left, the Coalition's actions speak louder than the Prime Minister's words Tuesday August 27, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Federal Labor members and the public sector union both agreed with parts of the Prime Minister's speech to his public service troops but argued the…
'Blatantly political' appointments risk public trust, says Labor MP Wednesday August 15, 2018 By David Donaldson Features Australia should reconsider how it doles out senior public service jobs following a rash of "blatantly political appointments", argues public servant-turned-Labor backbencher Julian Hill.
Opposition promises to remove APS staffing cap, with 'no impact on budget' Thursday August 9, 2018 By Stephen Easton Federal If the Turnbull government is turfed out of office at the next election, its arbitrary cap on Australian Public Service staffing levels will go with…
Auditor-general Grant Hehir defends his independence from ministerial direction Monday July 16, 2018 By Stephen Easton Federal The Treasurer had no right to stop the auditor-general telling his parliamentary oversight committee about a last-minute funding change this year, according to official legal…
Legislature vs executive: auditor-general's independence trumped by budget secrecy Wednesday May 30, 2018 By Stephen Easton Features This year, budget secrecy trumped the independence of Commonwealth auditor-general Grant Hehir, and the deputy chair of the parliamentary committee that backs him up is…
Consultancies 'adding up to billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money' Wednesday April 11, 2018 By Verona Burgess Career Advice Two hearings and more than 50 submissions later, the JPCPAA may not be getting far, but the committee leaders are clearly asking intelligent questions, says…
