Re-elected Prime Minister's public message to department heads Thursday May 23, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Prime Minister Scott Morrison brought department heads out in front of the media cameras on Thursday and told them not to get in the way… Read more
The federal election campaign through the 'distorted prism' of social media Tuesday April 30, 2019 By The Mandarin Communications & Technology Home Affairs head Michael Pezzullo has described social media as a “cesspit” while former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Peter Varghese warned it… Read more
Why Michael Pezzullo is not a fan of KPIs, or right-wing extremists Tuesday April 2, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Department of Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo made it very clear he has no intention of setting new performance targets for processing citizenship applications, as… Read more
Michael Pezzullo's seven gathering storms: national security in the 2020s Wednesday March 13, 2019 By Michael Pezzullo Defence Top Home Affairs official, Michael Pezzullo, says he has seen "a dark kaleidoscope of future stormy possibilities" which threaten a great cost on the nation,… Read more
No more long knives: bring back permanent secretaries, argues 1980s Treasury dep sec Wednesday March 13, 2019 By Stephen Easton Career Matters Former Westpac chief executive and Hawke-era Treasury deputy secretary David Morgan has added his voice to those who argue the Australian Public Service needs leaders… Read more
What can Australian public servants learn from the UK's new Outsourcing Playbook? Thursday February 28, 2019 By Stephen Easton Editors' Picks Can Australian public sector outsourcing practices prevent Paladin becoming its Carillion moment? A new Outsourcing Playbook offers lessons from failure. Read more
Home Affairs secretary fears cyber doom; critics say he made it more likely Friday December 7, 2018 By Stephen Easton Editors' Picks Viewed through the prism of military analogy, as is favoured by Home Affairs boss Michael Pezzullo, the growing cyber threats is a war with no established… Read more
Geoff Gallop on corruption: politics is the problem, but it's also the solution Friday November 30, 2018 By Stephen Easton Features The high risk of political corruption is the main reason for special ICAC-style oversight, but governments must be allowed to govern, says former WA Premier… Read more
Michael Pezzullo: know thy place, public servants, and focus on the facts Tuesday October 30, 2018 By Stephen Easton Communications & Technology Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo worries that some of his colleagues know too little of the origins and principles that underpin the Westminster system, and… Read more
Au pairs: a minister under fire, his department overruled, and a very long list of QONs Wednesday September 5, 2018 By Stephen Easton News The Department of Home Affairs has agreed to tell a Senate committee what led border control officials to advise Minister Peter Dutton there was a… Read more
APS in de facto caretaker mode as speculation swirls over secretaries Wednesday August 22, 2018 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks A Dutton government could shake the earth under the APS given his right-wing ideology; a Morrison or other middle-of-the-road challenger’s government less so. Read more
Michael Pezzullo on restoring public trust in governments and getting around encryption Thursday July 26, 2018 By Stephen Easton Federal Michael Pezzullo preemptively defends the new Department of Home Affairs structure from "those who would seek to unravel those linkages" and argues his bailiwick offers… Read more
What’s up in Senate estimates? Leaks, Lloyd and loquacious witnesses spark early clashes Monday May 21, 2018 By Stephen Easton Federal Security issues and claims based on unauthorised disclosures to the media have taken centre stage as the Senate's post-budget estimates hearings kicked off in Canberra. Read more
Beware the axe: stability is good, but loyalty is better for some incoming ministers Wednesday April 18, 2018 By Verona Burgess Career Matters Would a Shorten Labor government bring another night of the long knives? Verona Burgess thinks some executives could be seen as turn-coats, but wiser heads… Read more
How do women in leadership shape the big picture? Wednesday March 7, 2018 By Criterion Conferences People & Capability Australia's sixth Women in Leadership conference will focus on developing leadership skills and driving the advancement of women. Hear from female leaders across federal, state… Read more
