Simon Atkinson

The Mandarin ranks each APS secretary’s salary by two measures: total remuneration and base salary.

The Mandarin’s analysis of APS secretarial salaries suggests taxpayers are paying a double price for politicisation.

There are a number of surprises in the department secretary changes, yet all of the appointments are solid.

Anthony Albanese has unveiled his choice for a new secretary for APS reform, in addition to swapping top mandarins across three government departments.

Both current and former APS commissioners say professionals who’ve worked in politics can enhance the public service. 

Public servants may have tried to cover-up the controversial Leppington Triangle land purchase when auditors questioned whether they had paid too much, Senate Estimates has heard. In a tense morning of hearings on Monday, Labor Senator Penny Wong grilled Department of Infrastructure secretary Simon Atkinson about the $30 million purchase of a 12-hectare land parcel […]

Public servants can’t stop ministers doling out questionable grants of taxpayer’s money, but it’s important that their advice on who deserves the money is strong and the process beyond reproach.