Payne weighs in on human rights and rule of law in Cambodia Federal Australia’s commitment to ensuring Cambodia walks the path of a ‘free and fair democratic nation’ has been underscored by foreign minister Marise Payne, ahead of
Pezzullo’s ‘drums of war’ speech ‘totally unnecessary’, McGowan says April 27, 2021 By Shannon Jenkins Defence Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has described Mike Pezzullo’s “drums of war” message as “totally unnecessary”. In a recent ANZAC Day speech, the home affairs
MPs reveal they knew of historical rape allegations as Morrison faces calls for independent inquiry March 1, 2021 By Shannon Jenkins Federal A number of politicians had been made aware of historical rape allegations against a current federal minister more than a year before they were detailed
Fourth woman speaks up about Brittany Higgins’ alleged perpetrator February 23, 2021 By Shannon Jenkins Federal A fourth woman has come forward to make allegations about the man accused of sexually assaulting former ministerial staffer Brittany Higgins, alleging that he stroked
A terrible little secret in a building whose walls have ears and where gossip is gold February 19, 2021 By Verona Burgess Career Matters The clock is ticking down to Senate estimates on the Brittany Higgins matter, says Verona Burgess. The black hole of accountability and scrutiny that is
Public servants getting on with it in relation to China December 9, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Editors' Picks FOCUS: CHINA, AUSTRALIA AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR. Just two weeks ago Prime Minister Scott Morrison asserted that while it is not the job of the
Premium Expert briefings COVID ate-it: Public servants front a tough fortnight at Senate Estimates October 29, 2020 By Matthew Elmas Features A Senate Estimates like no other enters the final stretch today. With the COVID-19 pandemic still foremost in the minds of public servants and several
‘Commonwealth may have been defrauded’: Coverup could be afoot in bungled $30 million airport deal 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 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 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’ 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 February 13, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal An attempt to suspend Senate leader Mathias Cormann and obtain Phil Gaetjens’ report into Bridget McKenzie’s handling of Commonwealth grants has failed. The motion supported
New secretaries for Infrastructure and Environment departments November 8, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins News Two new secretaries have been appointed for the standard five-year terms in Australian Public Service, starting from Monday, November 11. David
Premium Columnists The good, the bad, and the ugly ways of explaining oneself in a Senate estimates committee; Wong on song 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, and
