Australian cricket’s ball-tampering scandal offers fascinating insights in six key integrity areas: the balance between rules and values; the importance of leadership; psychological safety; organisational justice; trust; and the price of performance. Read More
When principles matter no more – that’s the real scandal, says Simon Longstaff. Read More
A clear idea of governmental purpose helps policy makers overcome the inevitable trade-offs and quandaries they face, argues DHHS boss Kym Peake. Victoria's approach to family violence shows the value of articulated ethical principles. Read More
South Australian public sector commissioner Erma Ranieri is asking other public service leaders to explain a high number of exemptions to merit-based recruitment processes, according to her latest State of the Sector report. Read More
Public servants must be “eternally vigilant in maintaining their tradition of frank and fearless advice based on evidence” in the post-truth era, according to former Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs. Read More
Ethics Centre chief Simon Longstaff challenges bureaucrats to consider what makes a just decision and when compliance action is right. Reflectiveness and good judgment are key. Read More
A surprising example of how government data can be put to "appalling" use came up at yesterday's Data+Privacy Conference, where ethical frameworks that go beyond basic legal compliance were a major topic of discussion. Read More
The US government's top ethics official, who worked for three presidents, has taken a parting shot at Donald Trump's administration over his business profits. Read More
Unlike her predecessor Richard Bingham, Queensland's new integrity commissioner brings an academic perspective on public sector probity to the unique office, which provides independent and confidential advice to public servants and parliamentarians. Read More
Centrelink bosses think they stayed within the law but they "rode roughshod" over conventional attitudes to privacy, writes ethicist Matthew Beard. Governments should pick their battles to earn the trust of the public. Read More
The business community is reasserting its authority to contribute to the policy debate, says Business Council of Australia's Jennifer Westacott. We need a new, co-operative way of making policy. Read More
New figures reveal how Australians rate the ethics of local, state and Commonwealth public sector occupations, including politicians. Does closer to the people translate to more in tune with expectations of behaviour? Read More
Unthinking custom and practice is the enemy of innovation, and unless questioned, will maintain the status quo. Ethics Centre chief Simon Longstaff explains how constructive subversion can help public sector leaders shake things up. Read More
Some public servants need little encouragement to fight FOI tooth and nail — but should they? Two departments handled the release of their "blue books" very differently, while Labor fights to force more disclosure. Read More
Commonwealth public servants are trying to cut back internal red tape. But ministers and mandarins must get over their fear of failure to achieve agility. A review of internal red tape could be made public. Read More
