Corrupt behaviour by former West Australian commissioner to Japan Craig Peacock cost taxpayers more than $500,000 and took at least a decade to be picked up, according to a report released by the state's Crime and Corruption Commission. Read More
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' "contradictory" dual role as a regulator and promoter of the live animal export industry contributed to the industry's failure to ensure animal welfare, a long-awaited review into the department has found. Read More
Australian diplomats continue to strongly advocate free trade and multilateral diplomacy in response to Donald Trump’s revival of protectionism and the ensuing threat of trade wars, but that is only one side of the story. Read More
Productivity Commission chairman Peter Harris chose an address to the European Australian Business Council to explain the independent advisory body's views on Australia's place in the global economy. Read More
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade turned 30 on July 14 and its job is only getting harder, but secretary Frances Adamson is confident that its past record is cause for optimism about its future. Read More
The Canberra "beltway" needs more intelligence on what Australians are thinking, says the new DFAT head. As the forces of protectionism rally, she pondered the declining public trust in governments and foreign policy. Read More
OPINION: Global dynamics are shifting rapidly, the secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet argues. And both the United States and Australia haven't always been well positioned to take advantage. Read More
Australia's incoming ambassador to Brazil has years of experience strengthening ties with Latin America. Read More
Australia has defended its regulatory sovereignty, and its tobacco control laws, in its first investor-state dispute settlement case. But more are likely, and there's genuine concern about how the system operates. Read More
ISDS provisions in free trade agreements have come under fire for allowing governments to be sued over social policy. So why do trade negotiators like them? Penny Wong thinks we need an international agreement. Read More
There's now bipartisan support for federal Treasury offices outside Canberra, to "keep their finger on the pulse". A big Sydney play is going ahead and Perth looks set to be in line for its own outpost, but is it all about Asia, or state interests? Read More
