New training to help public servants and ministers’ offices work together Federal The Australian Public Service Commission is developing material to help public servants and ministerial offices work better together, in response to the findings of the…
Spot the differences: all the changes in the new Cabinet Handbook Friday October 11, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued the second new edition of the Cabinet Handbook since he took office, with a few substantial changes made since…
Premium Insights and analysis Peter Costello on the independence of the public service 'view', the future of policy advice, and when Treasury secretaries were treated harshly Wednesday August 7, 2019 By Peter Costello Editors' Picks Peter Costello tackles the thorny issue of where, when and how a department of state should be having its own view, and what does that…
Who are the staffers shaping our political landscape? Monday July 16, 2018 By Victoria Draudins Editors' Picks The ministerial office is one of the last largely inscrutable parts of our democracy. Where do these staffers come from, and what makes them qualified?…
Why become a ministerial staffer Monday July 16, 2018 By Victoria Draudins Editors' Picks Public servants come back from working in a minister’s office with a variety of new skills, says Victoria Draudins.
Michaelia Cash office leak illustrates a failure of ministerial responsibility Monday October 30, 2017 By The Mandarin Features Michaelia Cash denies she knowingly misled the Senate, blaming her ministerial adviser's unilateral actions for her incorrect assertions. This shows the accountability deficit created by…
No time for cowards and wafflers: Dennis Richardson clocks off Tuesday May 16, 2017 By Stephen Easton Career Advice Senior public servants can still give frank and fearless advice -- unless they're cowards, says former Department of Defence secretary Dennis Richardson. He also believes…
Ministerial offices are the 'missing link' of public sector reform Monday October 24, 2016 By David Donaldson Features While the public service has been radically reshaped, less effort has gone into reforming the bad habits of ministers and staffers. Professor Anne Tiernan urges…
'Adviserous horribilis': MP unloads on political staffers Friday April 15, 2016 By David Donaldson Editors' Picks Fat, lazy Arts dropouts ... advisers — or "snouts" — have spread like myxomatosis, says bureaucrat-turned-MP David Speirs. Beyond the hyperbole, he tells The Mandarin…
Mind the rise — and ever rise — of ministerial advisers Wednesday February 24, 2016 By Graeme Dobell Features Gough Whitlam created them. Malcolm Fraser cemented them. And the move to new Parliament House multiplied them — exponentially ever since. Charting the rise and…
Bureaucrat in the ministerial office: career risk or boon? Tuesday February 2, 2016 By David Donaldson Career Advice FEATURE: Thinking of a career switch to the other side of the fence? Drew Clarke and Frances Adamson are the latest in a long…
Codify relationship with ministerial staffers: Blacher Friday December 12, 2014 By David Donaldson Features He reformed local government, put on the Commonwealth Games and created a new department with eight ministers. But Yehudi Blacher says ministerial advisers often don't…
