Today
Finance begins training bureaucrats in procurement
The Department of Finance has begun training bureaucrats in how to buy complex goods and services and is also considering creating a specialist procurement career pathway for officials.
- Edmund Tadros
Yesterday
Australians unconvinced about AI safety: survey
There is a wide disparity in those who trust AI across different Australian regions, according to a new survey on trust in government services.
- Tom Burton
February
Battler for the underdog on being the department of last resort
South Australia has long been a leader in innovative social policy and services. After a series of leadership roles in Victoria and SA, Sandy Pitcher wants her staff to take pride in being the place the most vulnerable can turn to.
- Tom Burton
Bosses ‘nauseated’ as public servants gain unlimited WFH days
The four largest federal government agencies have voted overwhelmingly to end mandatory work-from-office rules as part of an 11.2 per cent pay deal.
- Tom Burton
Create consultant ‘name and shame’ register, government urged
The Business Council of Australia wants consulting contracts that have been terminated due to “material breaches” to be tracked and reported publicly.
- Edmund Tadros
Firms fume as Finance hits damage control in pricing email stuff-up
The Finance Department said the confidential pricing it accidentally emailed to 236 consulting firms was old and that bidders didn’t rely on these fees anyway.
- Edmund Tadros, Tom Burton and Ronald Mizen
Confidential big four billing rates accidentally released, again
The bidding prices of the cream of the professional advisory sector have been leaked again, and the federal finance department is in full damage control.
- Updated
- Tom Burton
The number of public servants working from home has doubled
Many new employees say flexible conditions contributed to their decision to take a job.
- Tom Burton
- Opinion
- Workplace culture
Parties, staff beauty contests and a ‘god’ dais: How the ATO has changed
Secrecy and privacy were legendary in the closed shop of the Australian Taxation Office where staffers were encouraged to socialise only with their colleagues. But times have changed.
- Tom Burton
Why the agriculture secretary needs mediation and a ‘big fat novel’
It’s Adam Fennessy’s second stint as an agriculture secretary. He shares his best leadership tips, how to embrace digital transformation and what he looks for when hiring.
- Tom Burton
Public servants working from home not ‘disconnected’
The head of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations says about one-third of her employees have flexible work arrangements.
- Tom McIlroy and Cindy Yin
‘No strings attached’ for nearly $1b in federal grants
Almost $1 billion of taxpayers’ money is being paid out annually in government grants that have been awarded without proper competitive assessments.
- Tom McIlroy
- Exclusive
- Disability
The Brit who predicted the NDIS disaster a decade ago
Dr Simon Duffy warned a decade ago that the design of the national disability insurance scheme created perverse incentives, leaving it flawed from day one.
- Tom Burton
How nursing prepared this government leader
Newly appointed NSW Customer Service secretary Graeme Head learnt how to work in fast-changing workplaces as an emergency nurse at Sydney’s RPA Hospital.
- Tom Burton
January
Special AI laws needed for financial services: Longo
ASIC chairman Joe Longo has laid out a case for special AI rules for financial services, arguing general rules will not be adequate to stop harms.
- Tom Burton and James Eyers
Former top Victorian public servant joins EY
Simon Phemister has joined its strategy arm to develop a new service providing advice on urban renewal projects.
- Edmund Tadros
NDIS cost could blow out to $125b a year
The annual bill for the National Disability Insurance Scheme is projected to blow out to more than $125 billion a year by 2034 amid warnings the number of participants could more than double.
- Tom Burton
Albanese recruits senior staffer from Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue
Fiona Sugden is a veteran Labor staffer, having worked in Kevin Rudd’s prime ministerial office.
- Kylar Loussikian
Nine months’ wait for a place in aged care
Residential aged care wait times have improved marginally, but still remain three times higher than a decade ago.
- Tom Burton
- Analysis
- AI
AI plan leaves Australia a digital backwater
Australia has fallen in behind its AUKUS partners, embracing a light-touch, low-key approach to revolutionary AI technology.
- Tom Burton
