Pezzullo is a one-off in the today’s public service. He can perhaps be best understood by referring back to the so-called bureaucratic “mandarins” of decades ago.
Australian politics’ ‘revolving door’ is undermining efforts to counter lobbying and potential corruption, and the regulation system is hopelessly flawed.
Parliament has now finished its sitting fortnight. Michelle Grattan discusses the key issues from it, including Labor’s approach to passing legislation given its weaker position in the Senate.
Former ministers Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop were cleared of wrongdoing in official review into their post-political employment, but will face a senate inquiry.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Former ministers Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop are among many who have accepted jobs post-office in breach of ministerial code of conduct - but they will face a senate inquiry.
Julie Bishop and Marise Payne have risen to the top in foreign affairs, but their successes may be masking more systemic issues preventing women from advancement.
William West/AAP
A new report has found a major gender gap persists in Australia’s diplomatic, defence and intelligence fields. Australia needs good ideas, and we cannot assume they will all come from the same place.
Questions have been raised about the new private-sector roles of former ministers Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop.
Lukas Coch/Mick Tsikas/AAP
One in four former ministers go on to take lucrative roles with special interest groups after leaving politics. Our current standards regulating this practice aren’t being enforced adequately.
The departure of Liberal women is a sign that they have always been outsiders within the party, and by world standards the gender imbalance is stark and woefully out of touch.
If Julie Bishop also walked away, she would be making a rational decision.
Lukas Coch/AAP
New research shows that conservative voters generally fail to see how being female can impede political success, while left-of-centre voters list gender as the main obstacle to success.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced this week the government would scrap the plan to lift the age for pension eligibility to 70, capping it at 67.
AAP/Daniel Pockett
Another hectic week in federal politics saw the government change the age of pension eligibility, Julie Bishop arguing for more women in parliament, and the Peter Dutton au pair story continuing to bubble along.
The Liberal Party room is dominated – and increasingly so over the past generation – by male MPs who anoint leaders in their own image.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Other conservatives parties in the Western world have done better on female representation than the Liberals - the party needs a gender quota and to rid itself of its right-wing thugs.
Morrison will need to rely heavily on the experience of his new foreign minister, Marise Payne, and deputy leader, Josh Frydenberg.
Andrew Taylor/AAP
Bishop could presumably expect to receive some attractive job offers in the next few months, and if the right one came along, domestic or international, she would be taking it.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled his ministry, rewarding his supporters who also making room for some Peter Dutton supporters - with the exception of Tony Abbott.
It all comes down to incentives and the size of parliament.
AAP