Commonwealth public servants will have arrived at their offices this morning feeling a mix of relief and trepidation. Relief because the disorder and uncertainty of serving a divided and besieged minority…
Does Labor’s most recent attack ad pass the truth test?
Labor Party
Election FactCheck is checking key claims in political advertisements. Here we look at the “If Tony Abbott Wins, You Lose” ad from Labor. Families will lose the Schoolkids Bonus The Coalition has made…
How much truth is there in claims about public service job cuts?
“The Liberals have a secret plan to cut jobs in Canberra – 20,000 public service jobs are just the start of the Liberals’ plan to punish Canberra. Housing prices will plummet, unemployment will rise, and…
What is life like inside the office of MPs who hold the balance of power, such as retiring independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor?
AAP/Alan Porritt
With the end of each parliament there inevitably comes a series of announcements that particular parliamentarians will not be contesting the next election. Usually, these decisions are justified by the…
Happy with out-of-date outfits, not so happy about out-of-date salaries.
Julien Behal/PA
George Osborne’s populist attack on public sector salaries made for just the headlines he wanted. He promised to end “automatic progression pay” in the civil service by 2015-16, and to work towards ending…
The long-held belief that the private sector is more efficient than the public sector is not supported by theory or evidence.
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“The reality is that government employees around the world are known not to be as efficient as the private sector.” —Paul Fletcher, Liberal Party, Member for Bradfield “The efficiency of the public system…
The role of politicians and public servants are blurred in countries such as China, which announced its new leadership last week.
EPA/Adrian Bradshaw
What will the Asian Century mean for public administration in Australia? This probably isn’t the first question that occurs to people pondering the implications of shifting economic and political power…
Terry Moran has called for the strengthening of the Australian Public Service.
Alan Porritt / AAP
John Alford, Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)
Terry Moran was Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2008 to 2011. He is now President of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and a governor of the Committee…
Former Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Terry Moran AC, has called for the strengthening of the Australian Public Service.
Alan Porritt / AAP
John Alford, Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)
Terry Moran was Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2008 to 2011. He is now President of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and a governor of the Committee…
Peter Shergold, pictured here at COAG with former prime minister John Howard, was Australia’s top public servant from 2003-2008.
AAP/Alan Porritt
In 2007, soon after becoming prime minister, Kevin Rudd found himself unable to attend the Christmas party of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) of which I was the secretary. This…
The UK’s recent rail fiasco shows outsourcing isn’t always the answer.
EPA/Andy Rain
As governments increasingly come under fiscal stress, many leap at the opportunity to cut costs by outsourcing services. The current flurry of activity around outsourcing, gaining much attention in the…
David Cameron has championed the ‘Big Society’ - but is it the right fit for Australia?
Andy Rain / AAP
Public service reform is never far from the minds of newly elected governments, particularly in times of fiscal constraint. The pressure to cut budgets combined with a determination to “do something” about…
Are cuts the best way to achieve efficient Government?
Joe Castro / AAP
I was sitting in a session at the Institute of Public Administration Congress recently where Greg Hywood, the CEO of Fairfax, boldly announced that the public sector simply did not understand cuts. Not…