Premium Columnists Infrastructure administration might be banal but it’s costing us tens of billions Editors' Picks Administering these infrastructure projects might be unglamorous, but we’re losing billions of dollars by doing it badly.
Premium Insights and analysis Despite robodebt, cabinet documents likely to remain locked away August 10, 2023 By Anna Macdonald Editors' Picks The final report of the robodebt royal commission has rekindled discussions about making cabinet submissions accessible under FOI laws.
Jane Halton links ‘chilling’ effect of FOI to robodebt’s frank and fearless advice epic fail July 11, 2023 By Julian Bajkowski Community & Social Candour is a lost art, laments former finance secretary Jane Halton. If everything is on record, people say far less.
Review into purchase and procurement of coronavirus vaccines published September 27, 2022 By Tom Ravlic Federal The review found Australia compared favourably with other countries in the rush to get its population vaccinated.
Premium Columnists A government full of glorious ideas August 5, 2022 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks The 47th Parliament has only sat for its first fortnight since the election but the business of government is well underway and the parliamentary program quite packed.
Premium Insights and analysis Election 2022: Historically speaking, public service heads always roll when a government changes May 19, 2022 By Chris Johnson Editors' Picks The Mandarin takes a look at how each side of politics has acted towards senior public servants when the government changes hands.
Money for CEPI welcomed by international development group March 11, 2022 By Melissa Coade Federal The Australian government has pledged $100 million over five years to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Premium Insights and analysis Co-design, not secondments, key to enhancing APS understanding of business February 17, 2022 By Melissa Coade Career Advice Former public servant Jane Halton calls for early-career public servants to learn co-design — the best way to strengthen regulatory capability.
‘Please, never again’: former Health secretary urges governments to ramp up preparedness following COVID-19 August 13, 2021 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Jane Halton and Bill Bowtell cite lack of preparedness and failure to learn from past events as reasons for Australia’s COVID-19 response falling short.
PSsst! Stepford snipe July 8, 2021 By The Mandarin Federal Another gig for Halton, and maybe another, screaming man, The ‘move-on’ minister, and more.
Premium Columnists Department secretaries in the spotlight — whether by accident or design May 6, 2021 By Verona Burgess Defence How are senior public servants are expected by convention to behave? There have been a few colourful and charismatic secretaries, writes Verona Burgess.
PM disbands COVID-19 advisory board, declares emergency response over May 3, 2021 By Melissa Coade Federal More than a year since the COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board was formed, its work has concluded as Australia looks to the ‘path of economic recovery’.
Opinion: Australia and China have something to celebrate, not squabble over December 7, 2020 By Max Whitten Editors' Picks It’s beyond comprehension the PM would call for a global enquiry into the origins of COVID-19. Who is advising the PM? It is hard to believe his decision was canvassed in advance with mandarins in Foreign Affairs.
Premium The Briefing The Briefing: how will the new National COVID-9 Commission Advisory affect policy? July 30, 2020 By Chris Woods Editors' Picks How will the new National COVID-9 Commission Advisory Board manage criticisms over conflicts of interest, economic and environmental policies, transparency and cost while advising on the Morrison government’s economic recovery?
Halton to lead hotel quarantine review July 10, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Following the national cabinet’s Friday meeting, Scott Morrison said Jane Halton — who is currently a national COVID-19 commissioner — would be working with the states and territories to undertake the review.