Ken Henry | People | The Mandarin

‘What climate policy?’: former top mandarins voice anger over Australia’s failure to tackle climate change

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

Former top bureaucrats have spoken out about what they believe to be a failure by Australian politicians and their respective governments to implement and maintain…

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Insights and analysis

Peter Costello on the independence of the public service 'view', the future of policy advice, and when Treasury secretaries were treated harshly

By Peter Costello

Editors' Picks

Peter Costello tackles the thorny issue of where, when and how a department of state should be having its own view, and what does that…

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Insights and analysis

Trust makes the world go round. As a business asset, rebuild it with competence, care and 'a little bit of good each day'

By Bob McMullan & Sean Innis

Community & Social

The importance of trust was a focus of the recent ANU Crawford Leadership Forum. The forum brought together 200 thinkers and decision-makers from Australia and…

Bake workers back into Australia's mutuals

By Melina Morrison

Economy & Industry

Co-operatives play a major role in developed countries. It is time workers were dealt back into Australia economy. The good news is, we have a…

What could go wrong when a top public servant moves to the big end of town?

By Verona Burgess

Economy & Industry

Ken Henry's fall from pedestal to bed of nails was not even cushioned by the sterling contribution he previously made to the public service, says…

The finance royal commissioner thinks Ken Henry just doesn't seem to get it

By Stephen Easton

Economy & Industry

The finance royal commission’s final report singles out NAB as the big-four bank that seems least willing to learn its lessons and accept responsibility for…

Ken Henry is wrong, and that has implications for public policy

By Darryl Carlton

Economy & Industry

Dr Ken Henry’s statement to the banking royal commission was misguided ‒ he needs to listen to modern business theory and learn from the mistakes of the…

Labor's alternative APS: less efficiency cuts, but stop flying around so much

By Stephen Easton

Federal

As well as removing the Australian Public Service staffing cap, a Labor government would forgo nearly $400 million in planned efficiency dividends, cut travel costs…

When mandarins join the big end of town

By Verona Burgess

Editors' Picks

You’re leaving a senior position in the Australian Public Service and covet a plush seat in the elite company directors’ club. Be careful what you…

'Urgent': former secretaries assess public service capability

By David Donaldson

Editors' Picks

If the public service were a patient "it would be in palliative care", says Terry Moran. Here's what other secretaries have said about Australia's loss…

Upmarket agitprop: Clive James on John Howard on Bob Menzies

By Nicholas Gruen

Features

Nicholas Gruen reviews a book review by Clive James and ponders the decline of serious debate. He says James joined the culture wars and attacked…

Keane: after years of decline, who'll rescue the public service?

By Bernard Keane

Features

OPINION: A former Canberra SES gives a stinging assessment of a "toxic mix of incompetence and politicisation" in the federal public service. Is it…

Bureaucrat in the ministerial office: career risk or boon?

By David Donaldson

Features

FEATURE: Thinking of a career switch to the other side of the fence? Drew Clarke and Frances Adamson are the latest in a long…

Tingle: Australia's legacy of public service wisdom gutted by politicians

By The Mandarin

Economy & Industry

Australia's devaluing of the public service is not just about politicisation — bright young recruits have lost access to the experience of their elders, writes…

Bad boss? Bureaucrats defend 'bully' Rudd

By Harley Dennett

News

Nicola Roxon, health minister in the Rudd government, says her boss was abusive to public servants and dismissive of their work. Top officials at the…