Something strange happens when politicians leave the political stage. The other side suddenly becomes much more civil – even affectionate. There is an outbreak of bipartisanship or non-partisanship. It is as though, after years of fighting across the chamber, the political opponents shove babel fish into their ears and hear each other for the first time. Read More
There are many characteristics of political leadership – strength, courage, wisdom, vision, judgment, responsiveness. All are elusive, difficult to describe in the abstract, and turn on the historical and social context in which leadership is exercised. So, how should some of these characteristics be demonstrated in contemporary Australia? Read More
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 period, but they could have voted to keep the hearings going earlier. So, which agencies got a break? 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
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 you personally, you have a lot more freedom to opine on them in return. Read More
“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 for selling off a secure cabinet full of papers from the actual cabinet. Read More
FEATURE: The idea that there are holes in the federal accountability landscape won't go away. Veterans of debacles say the PGPA Act, although an improvement, is no substitute for an independent umpire. Read More
ESTIMATES LATEST: Ministers and top bureaucrats engaged in a few testy exchanges in their first Estimates hearings for 2016. Read More
ISDS provisions in free trade agreements have come under fire for allowing governments to be sued over social policy. So why do trade negotiators like them? Penny Wong thinks we need an international agreement. Read More
