APS staff working from offices while rest of Australia stays home Federal Mixed messages regarding working arrangements during the coronavirus pandemic have left Australian Public Service employees, their union, and even politicians confused and concerned.
Barr to take concerns over APS flexible work to National Cabinet March 25, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Australian Capital Territory On Wednesday morning chief minister Andrew Barr told ABC News he was concerned that many APS employees have continued to work from their offices rather than at home, risking the spread of the virus.
ACT stimulus package to keep Canberrans in jobs, says Barr March 20, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Australian Capital Territory Government fees and charges will be frozen and the health sector will receive extra funding under the ACT government’s $137 million stimulus package.
Concern over chief minister’s land agency resurfaces with referral to integrity commission December 4, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Australian Capital Territory ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has landed at the centre of the territory’s first potential Integrity Commission investigation. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts has been looking at various land deals made by the ACT government.
ACT Chief Minister: new Integrity Commission 'sends a message' to public service leaders November 30, 2018 By Stephen Easton Australian Capital Territory The ACT’s new integrity and anti-corruption commission will begin operating from July 1 next year, with senior public servants subject to new mandatory reporting rules
The politics of pill testing: even the ACT Chief Minister is over it April 30, 2018 By Stephen Easton Health Australia’s first trial of pill testing at a music festival has come and gone but opponents are still arguing that it means the government is endorsing or encouraging recreational drug use. The ACT Chief Minister approves, but can’t see why it’s a big deal.
Push vs pull: national FOI stats paint a blurry picture of open government January 12, 2018 By Stephen Easton Communications & Technology Not all freedom of information laws are created equal, which makes comparing the transparency of different systems across Australia rather difficult. States that proactively publish more information might look more secretive on paper.
ACT appoints a more visibly independent public service standards commissioner October 25, 2017 By Stephen Easton News Former Commonwealth auditor-general Ian McPhee is coming back into the Canberra public service fold as the ACT government’s next public sector standards commissioner — and unlike the current one, he won’t work in the public service at the same time.
ACT counts the dividends of efficiency, and the cost of efficiency dividends June 8, 2017 By Stephen Easton Career Advice This week’s ACT Budget lists a range of efforts to save money in the public service, from property management to procurement reform and general efficiency improvements. It also laments the local economic impact of the federal government’s efforts to do the same.
Decentralisation by default: APS must justify city offices or move out April 20, 2017 By Stephen Easton Features UPDATED: Barnaby Joyce responds to backlash after the Nationals demand parts of the Australian Public Service be chosen to relocate out of Canberra. An assessment process will be revealed ‘mid-year’ and agencies and departments will have until August to make the case why certain teams need to stay.
ACT opposition ups the integrity ante with ICAC promise August 30, 2016 By Stephen Easton News No matter who wins the ACT election, more scrutiny of the public sector is coming. Chief Minister Andrew Barr chided the opposition for copying his party’s integrity policy; now they have added an ICAC from the Greens’ platform.
Public sector integrity, transparency become ACT election issues August 4, 2016 By Stephen Easton News The Greens minister who props up the minority government is talking to the opposition about FOI reform and wants a new integrity agency. Meanwhile, the government’s big public sector reform package is expected to pass.
Decentralisation: 'ideologically driven Canberra bashing' February 11, 2016 By Stephen Easton Economy & Industry When Victoria tried public sector decentralisation, it hit a snag. The federal government is moving ahead anyway with agencies preparing to depart Canberra. But will their experience be any different?
'Dotcommunism' dashed: ACT's smart regulation of the sharing economy November 27, 2015 By Stephen Easton Communications & Technology There’s no better example of how to regulate the sharing economy than the ACT government’s embrace of Uber, according to a pair of bright young public policy wonks who worked for former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
ACT budget: Barr spends big on government IT June 4, 2015 By Stephen Easton News The Mr Fluffy asbestos saga has blown a large hole in the ACT budget, but apart from that, Treasurer and Chief Minister Andrew Barr is staying on track.