Premium Insights and analysis Public servants aren’t all rushing to get into a minister’s office and here’s why that’s a good thing Editors' Picks Don’t be fooled, not everyone around you is applying to join a minister’s office inside Anthony Albanese’s new Labor government. The federal government has put
Opinion: a deeper look into ministerial decisions on grants will help improve government February 25, 2021 By Sean Innis Australian Capital Territory Ministerial decision-making over grants funding is again making headlines. This time the spotlight has appeared on two ministers, former sports minister Bridget McKenzie and current
New training to help public servants and ministers’ offices work together September 22, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins 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 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 August 7, 2019 By Peter Costello Editors' Picks Peter Costello, Australia’s treasurer from 1996 to 2007 and now chair of the Future Fund, tackles the thorny issue of where, when and how a
Who are the staffers shaping our political landscape? 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 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. It’s not all about politics. Working
Michaelia Cash office leak illustrates a failure of ministerial responsibility October 30, 2017 By The Mandarin Features The federal opposition is continuing to call for Employment Minister Michaelia Cash’s resignation, claiming she misled parliament after repeatedly telling a Senate estimates committee that
No time for cowards and wafflers: Dennis Richardson clocks off May 16, 2017 By Stephen Easton Career Advice Senior public servants can still provide robust and independent advice regardless of how ministers behave, according to former Department of Defence secretary Dennis Richardson. Over
Ministerial offices are the 'missing link' of public sector reform October 24, 2016 By David Donaldson Features When public administrators consider how to improve governance, they understandably tend to focus on how better to advise and deliver on the decisions of politicians.
'Adviserous horribilis': MP unloads on political staffers 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 February 24, 2016 By Graeme Dobell Features Minder (noun): Body guard; staffer working for a politician/minister. Derived from London West End slang for a muscle man who protects a criminal or shady
Bureaucrat in the ministerial office: career risk or boon? February 2, 2016 By David Donaldson Career Advice Doing a stint in a ministerial office offers valuable experience for a public servant. Despite this, many worry they’ll be seen as partisan when they
Codify relationship with ministerial staffers: Blacher December 12, 2014 By David Donaldson Features Victoria’s new government should look at codifying the relationship between ministerial staffers and public servants, argues the former secretary of the Department of Planning and Community