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. Read More
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… Read More
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 advice. Read More
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 not pleased. Read More
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 VERONA BURGESS. Read More
One of the things that struck Julian Hill about moving from politics into the public service was the need to learn the art of saying nothing. Read More
Why do public servants need to use consulting firms so much? And how can you be a skilled buyer of consulting? Senior officials tell their side. Read More
Politicians want AusTender to be more than it is. Finance officials warn expanding it into a full expenditure reporting system would be better served though annual reporting. Read More
From dodgy contracts to money-saving headcount caps that cost more, Public Accounts and Audit wants to hear from you for its inquiry into contracts and consultants in the public service. Read More
The government may be spending more removing ineligible DSP recipients than it saves, a government-controlled parliamentary committee thinks. Severely disabled people are being told to prove they are still unable to work. Read More
Calls for federation reform and the importance of policy wonks were among the subjects broached in the maiden speeches of the 45th parliament. Read More
