Terry Moran is a man of firm convictions and has been an outspoken critic of managerialist approaches to policy-making -- particularly of top-down (or centre-out) outsourced models. But should we reject these models completely? And if so, what should be in their place? He speaks to the Centre for Public Impact's Sarah Novak. Read More
What are public servants' biggest bugbears? Motivation-destroying hierarchy and performance management come in near the top, alongside confusing recruitment processes. Read More
Underinvestment in skills development is leaving bureaucrats lagging behind business, argues the former head of the APS. The problem is particularly acute in the senior executive. Read More
The growing polarisation of our politics in the age of Trump and Brexit forms the premise for a fascinating – and potentially confronting – series… Read More
The APS's diminished ability is such that Terry Moran wouldn't trust the Commonwealth "with organising a collection of funds to build the local church". But he thinks the new Treasury boss should be given a chance. Read More
If the public service were a patient "it would be in palliative care", says Terry Moran. Here's what other secretaries have said about Australia's loss of bureaucratic capacity. 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
Three-quarters of Australians want a federal ICAC and a majority want a greater say in what government does. New research has been published just as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull entertains a corruption watchdog rethink of his own. Read More
To earn back public trust, perhaps the "policy elite" need to get over themselves. Big government might be back but better solutions may also lie in more participatory, place-based services, co-design with citizens and collaboration with other actors. Read More
Australians are fed up with policymakers too scared of their own shadow to make the bold calls, says new attitude research. One of the nation's top former mandarins says its time for an inquiry into outsourcing. Read More
The weak link in Australia's refugee settlement program is getting new arrivals into work. Whittling down governance responsibility from three departments to one could help improve employment outcomes and save millions, argues a new CPD report. Read More
Diversity of background and experience is one of the key features of a strong executive team. Be careful of groupthink, look for team players and present a united front to politicians, say current and former mandarins. Read More
SPEECH: Terry Moran considers the capability of the public sector in this new age — what he calls Public Administration 4 — and whether we've learned the lessons of the earlier three. Five principles to take the sector forward. Read More
The ex-PM&C boss breaks ranks with his former colleagues to argue more transparency will help the public service. He will today outline five principles for adapting public administration to a new age. Read More
Stagnation sets in if the secretary stays too long, but too-frequent turnover harms public policy. Former secretaries reflect on enthusiasm, building up expertise, and whether a five-year contract is enough. Read More
