Premium Expert briefings COVID ate-it: Public servants front a tough fortnight at Senate Estimates Thursday October 29, 2020 By Matthew Elmas Features As scandals circle the public service and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts business as usual, Senate Estimates has aired some tough questions.
‘Commonwealth may have been defrauded’: Coverup could be afoot in bungled $30 million airport deal Monday October 19, 2020 By Matthew Elmas News Public servants may have tried to cover-up the controversial Leppington Triangle land purchase when auditors questioned whether they had paid too much, Senate Estimates has…
DFAT cuts to come from key regional posts Thursday August 20, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's planned job cuts will come from overseas postings in Beijing, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Mexico, Port Moresby, and Baghdad.
DFAT cuts raise ‘serious questions’ about government’s ability to deliver national interests, says Labor Thursday July 16, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s decision to cut 60 jobs would compromise Australia’s national interests, according to foreign affairs shadow minister Penny Wong.
Senate COVID-19 committee calls on Josh Frydenberg to explain JobKeeper ‘blunder’ Monday May 25, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Economy & Industry Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has defended the government’s JobKeeper scheme amid calls for him to appear before the senate committee overseeing the government’s response to the…
Senate push to release Gaetjens report loses 35-36 Thursday February 13, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal A Senate committee into the sports rorts will begin on Thursday with evidence from the national auditor-general Grant Hehir. Gaetjens will also be called.
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…
Premium Columnists The good, the bad, and the ugly ways of explaining oneself in a Senate estimates committee; Wong on song Tuesday October 29, 2019 By Verona Burgess Career Advice THE OBSERVER: There comes a point when every democratic government bureaucracy needs to remember why it is there, why it has outlived successive political leaders,…
Lowy Institute: Lack of women in Australia’s international relations sector harms national interest Wednesday July 10, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Defence A scathing review from the Lowy Institute says there is a "severe gender imbalance" across the international relations sector, despite evidence of gender-balanced workforces functioning…
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…
What key quality should Australia’s next PM have? Thursday May 9, 2019 By Jayani Nadarajalingam Career Advice There are many characteristics of political leadership – strength, courage, wisdom, vision, judgment, responsiveness. All are elusive, difficult to describe in the abstract, and turn…
Which agencies got a break from Senate estimates hearings? Thursday April 11, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Labor is crying foul over their missed opportunities to quiz public servants after Senate estimates was cut short by the beginning of the election campaign…
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…
Lloyd makes calls on free speech and union-bargaining policies Wednesday February 28, 2018 By Stephen Easton News The Australian Public Service Commissioner has provided a new practical example of how the rules on public commentary operate: if a member of parliament mentions…
Cracks form in the convention of cabinet confidentiality, PM&C gets the glue Thursday February 1, 2018 By Stephen Easton News “Apart from anything else, you ought to be found and sacked," says former head of the Australian Public Service Terry Moran, to whoever is responsible…
