Premium Columnists Mind the gap between mandarins’ pay and exemplary leadership Secretaries' Salaries Series 2023 Are today’s secretaries paid what they are worth? Or rather, are they worth what they are paid? In some cases, certainly not.
Premium Columnists Vale Allan Hawke, good and faithful public servant September 9, 2022 By Verona Burgess Defence Allan Hawke was the ultimate professional public servant, as straight as a die. He was not, of course, perfect. For a start, that laugh…
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.
Greens, AWPR resume 35-year-long fight for parliamentary powers over armed conflicts December 9, 2020 By Chris Woods Defence Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John has submitted a revised version of the ‘war powers’ bill to enable ‘the approval of both houses of the parliament’ for Australia going to war.
APS leadership turnover set for another jolt — for better or for worse July 12, 2017 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks The high turnover of APS secretaries is expected to continue next year, but a ministerial reshuffle could cut short even more top mandarins’ careers, writes Verona Burgess.
When former bureaucrats speak out: insight and resentment March 10, 2016 By Jason Whittaker News A former ABS head attacks the agency’s approach to privacy. An ex-Immigration spinner takes on his old stomping ground. When former bureaucrats speak out there’s rare insight but noses out of joint.
Government off the record: the limits of transparency March 16, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features Public officials should always create and carefully retain records of any important discussions, and make sure all parties agree they are accurate. But according to FOI supporters, lots of mandarins prefer a culture of unofficial secrecy where oral conversations and official records do not match.
Pitfalls of privatisation: ideologues will repeat mistakes January 13, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features Past lessons demand a pragmatic approach to privatisation, weighing up costs and benefits and considering each case on its merits. Blind faith in ideology leads to costly mistakes.
A-G's union demands a partisan play public sector is used to July 30, 2014 By Stephen Easton News A search for information on unions could have a negative effect on the relationship between the federal government and a public service already being asked to do more with less.
