Gary Sturgess

The APS seeks outcomes for Australians through complex systems of organisations, rules and relationships.  How the APS designs and stewards these systems matters.  Research prepared

It’s unsurprising a contractor would fail, given the UK’s “aggressive” approach to outsourcing, thinks contracting expert Gary Sturgess. Taking the lowest bidder and ignoring the consequences is a bad idea.

Governments wringing too many savings out of outsourced risk is threatening the commercial and political sustainability of the whole enterprise, warns one of Australia’s top government contracting experts. It’s becoming a ‘game of chicken’ where the players want out.

It might sound strange, but the tragic voyage of the second fleet, which killed 40% of the convicts on board, holds a lesson for contemporary governments about the consequences of perverse incentives.

Online passport applications could be processed by multiple firms, as DFAT gears up to replace Australia Post’s face-to-face process. It might drive down costs — and make the contract difficult to manage.

Contestability in the public sector requires there be viable alternatives for genuine competition. That means encouraging alternate providers, or having an alternate management team. ANZSOG’s Professor Gary Sturgess explains the options.

Large omnibus government departments are cost-effective and prevent silos, proponents argue. But could they actually undermine governance? The Mandarin investigates.

The federation is in need of reform, says former state bureaucratic leader Gary Sturgess — but we need to be realistic about exactly what can be achieved.