CPD Needs a Research Assistant

We are looking for a Research Assistant to work on both our Public Service Research and Sustainable Economy research programs.   Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates who want to pursue a career in public policy research and development. The position is part time (4 days a week) Sydney based on a temporary contract of 10 months Roles & responsibilities: Conduct research and project management activities under supervision of a research director Generate, collect, manage, … more

Public Service in the News | Successful sustainable government programs, Discussions on the role of goverment to monitor corporate behaviour and more resistance against UK public service cuts

Banmujer: Benefitting Over 300,000 Venezuelan Families Since 2001 > One of Venezuela’s most important public institutions created as a government run bank with the specific purpose of funding socio-productive business initiatives to assist impoverished women through micro- credit lending celebrated its 10-year anniversary last week. Banking on the Big Society > Social entrepreneurs have been lionised for a decade, but the downside is that they are now expected to shoulder a growing share of society’s … more

 

L21 Leaders in the public sector conference | Sydney 30 Nov – 1 Dec

The current and future policy and service delivery environment demands that we build a public sector that is resilient, ready and responsive. But what does this mean and how do we do it? L21 Leaders in the Public Sector 2011 is designed to answer these specific questions in a comprehensive, practical, thought-provoking and stimulating way. Guest presenters include Hon Kristina Keneally, Professor Geoff Gallop and Professor John Brumby. Research Director of CPD’s Public Service program, … more

John Menadue & Arja Keski-Nummi | Hysterical Political Debate Ignores the Fears of Vulnerable People

Now is the time for leadership, not focus groups. However it seems that leadership on the matter of asylum seeker policy is strikingly absent on both sides of the political spectrum. We have a government unable to communicate or develop good policy ideas and an opposition bent on promoting misinformation and fear. Given these circumstances can refugees really expect fair and humane policy implementations (like onshore, in-community processing) anytime soon? CPD founder John Menadue and … more

Eva Cox | Women on the Front Line

Australia has gradually got over the idea that women are not as capable in some jobs as men, the simple mantra “you can’t do this because you’re a women, you can do this because you’re a man” is outdated. However there still remains some resistance to gender equality, particularly in the military. CPD contributor Eva Cox was on ABC Radio recently to discuss the prospects of women in the front lines of our armed forces. … more

 

Public sector cuts will hurt in times of crisis

Premier Barry O’Farrell communicated his intentions before the state election: we could expect to see fewer ‘‘back room bureaucrats’’ but rest assured that this wouldn’t mean fewer public servants to deliver ‘‘frontline’’ services like health, education and policing. In developing this platform, the Premier took advice from John Howard’s adviser Max ‘‘the axe’’ Moore-Wilton, who described the NSW public service as “a mess” and urged “real surgery”. The NSW Coalition is following a well-worn Liberal … more

Jennifer Doggett | Nothing Complementary about Pharmacy Guild’s Corporate Deal

First published in Crikey here The recent deal between the Pharmacy Guild and complementary medicine manufacturer Blackmores has raised the ire of both doctors and consumer groups. The Pharmacy Guild has signed a deal with Blackmores to include an automatic prompt for pharmacists dispensing specific medications to suggest that customers also purchase a particular Blackmore’s product targeting their condition. For example, you go in to fill your prescription for a cholesterol-lowering medication and come out … more

 

Ben Eltham | Transparency Please! Why the Tax Breaks for Pokies Clubs?

First published in Crikey here Has there ever been a more self-serving public campaign than the one being mounted by Clubs Australia? Clubs have long justified their gaming activities due to their value to the community. As Clubs Australia’s website says on its home page: “Clubs are not-for-profit community-based organisations whose central activity is to provide infrastructure and services for the community.” And if there’s one thing that hard-pressed Labor parliamentarians have been stressing, it … more