Robert MacDonald Robert MacDonald is the director of MacDonald Publishing Pty Ltd and an INQueensland columnist.
The biggest state and territory stories in 2023 December 19, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Australian Capital Territory All states and territories had their share of big stories that kept public servants on their toes this year.
Premium Insights and analysis Inside-man Steven Miles takes the reins as Queensland premier December 13, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Editors' Picks Queensland’s brand-new premier and former state development minister, Steven Miles, should be good news for the state’s public servants.
Premium Insights and analysis Queensland public service life post-Annastacia Palaszczuk December 12, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Editors' Picks One of the biggest needs for Queensland public servants is for the new leader to restore order to the dysfunctional cabinet processes.
Premium Insights and analysis Tipping point: Queensland’s one-stop clearing house for complaints September 21, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Editors' Picks The backflip on one of Peter Coaldrake’s recommendations appears to be political tactic at the cost of improving corruption reporting.
Premium Interviews David Mackie’s plans to rejuvenate Queensland’s public sector August 17, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Community & Social David Mackie is tasked with delivering the Coaldrake review’s recommendations for culture and accountability in the Queensland public sector.
Australia’s ratings in the OECD’s Government at a Glance 2023 report July 3, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Federal Australia is close to OECD averages in terms of overall satisfaction with public services but trust is below the average.
Queensland Budget: 4,666 more public servants and better pay but challenges await June 14, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Communications & Technology Labor pledges more public service hirings and more pay with no mention of productivity trade-offs or departmental efficiency dividends.
Elizabeth Whiting, building bridges between clinicians and hospital management June 12, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Health Professor Elizabeth Whiting is highly respected as a medical specialist and as someone helping hospital teams perform better.
Malcolm Letts, biosecurity leader who withstood ‘banana-geddon’ June 12, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Energy & Environment On his first day as Queensland chief biosecurity officer, Malcolm Letts had to deal with a serious banana disease on the Atherton Tableland.
Almost a year since Coaldrake, what happened to public sector reform in Queensland? April 27, 2023 By Robert MacDonald Culture Despite promising to adopt Peter Coaldrake’s recommendations ‘lock, stock and barrel’, Palaszczuk has shown little enthusiasm for reform.
Queensland’s $7 billion budget windfall December 8, 2022 By Robert MacDonald Economy & Industry State treasurer Cameron Dick has revealed a projected $7.3 billion revenue surge for Queensland’s 2022-23 budget.
Palaszczuk backs police commissioner in wake of damning QPS report November 23, 2022 By Robert MacDonald Community & Social Katarina Carroll will remain in the role of Queensland Police Service commissioner to fix the QPS’s views on domestic, family violence.
Queensland to hold regional cabinet meeting on Thursday Island August 17, 2022 By Robert MacDonald Culture Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government will hold its first regional cabinet meeting on Thursday Island on 6 September.
Premium Columnists Queensland public servants brace for more active oversight August 11, 2022 By Robert MacDonald The good news is the QPS is less likely to be caught up in under-cooked criminal prosecutions; the bad news is they face CCC guidance on how to be honest.