Premium Insights and analysis COAG changes hang in the balance as politicians take aim at Secretary Gaetjens Monday October 25, 2021 By Melissa Coade Culture Reading the views of minor party members of the senate committee, passage of the COAG amendment bill for law reforms through the senate is in…
Premium Insights and analysis Soft corruption and weak administration — the match made in hell Wednesday October 6, 2021 By Bernard Keane Australian Capital Territory Soft corruption — private advantage at the expense of the public interest — is always about clever exploitation of the rules rather than breaking them.
Premium Insights and analysis Wider and deeper: the growth of politicisation Tuesday October 5, 2021 By Bernard Keane Federal The Coalition in government simply cut the APS out of the policy process altogether by handing ever more work to consulting firms.
Plan to ‘kill’ proposal that will give national cabinet immunity from scrutiny Monday September 27, 2021 By Melissa Coade Communications & Technology Senator Rex Patrick has proposed an amendment that will challenge keeping the deliberations of the national cabinet secret.
Premium Columnists A (worrying) diplomacy gap at the top of government Friday September 24, 2021 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks With France offside in one blow, as well as swathes of Europe and South-East Asia, not to mention China, we can hardly afford any more…
Premium Columnists It’s revenge time, as Morrison strikes back over AAT’s national cabinet decision Friday September 10, 2021 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks A piece of legislation sitting in the parliament right now surely takes the cake for arrogance and it is dragging the Australian public with it…
PM’s letter to Frewen shines light on thinking behind Vaccine Taskforce Wednesday September 1, 2021 By Melissa Coade Defence The PM promised Lt Gen John Frewen ‘direct operational control’ of all government resources relevant to the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine scheme.
Gaetjens pauses Higgins’ inquiry following legal advice Tuesday August 31, 2021 By Melissa Coade Community & Social Phil Gaetjens has suspended his ‘who knew what, when’ inquiry into claims of an alleged rape at parliament house in 2019.
Higgins warned not to participate in Gaetjens review Friday August 27, 2021 By Melissa Coade Australian Capital Territory Higgins has been warned by ACT DPP that she should 'carefully consider not participating in any interview'.
Premium Columnists PM&C has a lot of embarrassing questions to come Friday August 13, 2021 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks Justice White's written decision reveals shockingly slipshod work within PM&C, the very agency that is supposed to be the premier authority on government.
Premium Columnists Matters of transparency: freedom of information and the national cabinet Tuesday August 10, 2021 By Binoy Kampmark Editors' Picks Binoy Kampmark fleshes out the themes of Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal Justice Richard White's decision on national cabinet documents.
APS leaders explain the ins and outs of regulatory impact analysis in new videos Tuesday August 3, 2021 By Shannon Jenkins Federal The Office of Best Practice Regulation has released a new video series explaining how impact analysis contributes to good policy proposals.
Premium Columnists Machiavelli meets Sun Tzu: the knives are out, and they cut all sorts of ways Friday July 16, 2021 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks There are a few more audits in the pipeline that might cause shivers up public service spines, writes Verona Burgess. What a difference seven months…
Premium Columnists Opportunity knocks for those with Secretary ambitions (but mind your head) Friday June 18, 2021 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks The drive to reach the top is not just about being close to political power, although that can be shockingly seductive. There’s a characteristic that…
Adamson departure clears way for shakeup Thursday May 20, 2021 By Chris Johnson Editors' Picks Beyond DFAT, other departments likely to be impacted by Frances Adamson’s imminent departure include Defence, Home Affairs, Attorney-General and even PM&C.
