Today
They battled blokey workplaces. Now these 33 women enforce the rules
RBA governor Michele Bullock and competition chief Gina Cass-Gottlieb are among 33 women leading Australia’s regulatory bodies, once the domain of male enforcers.
This Month
Anti-vax claims flood Senate inquiry. Officials say they’re wrong
The ABS, Health Department and actuaries say there is no evidence to support claims there were more deaths from non-COVID causes due to government vaccine mandates during the pandemic.
Crisis-focused Home Affairs fails to prepare for security threats
A review of the $6.3 billion Home Affairs department has found it is too focused on crisis management, and lacks the trust of other key intelligence agencies.
Bird flu on the march, experts warn
More than 400,000 chickens were slaughtered in Victoria this week and experts say Australia will be lucky to avoid the more virulent version of avian flu.
- Analysis
- Government Observed
The real reason for spending $1b on PsiQuantum
Defence planners have long worried how vulnerable military information systems are to GPS being taken out by an adversary.
NDIS reforms can’t wait for a ‘magical unicorn day’: Shorten
Disability Minister Bill Shorten says premiers should stop using disabled people as a political football, after the states called for delays to NDIS reforms.
Nearly 46 hours a month to read all privacy policies: study
Australians would spend nearly 46 hours a month reading all the privacy policies they encounter, according to a new report into data firms.
Prescription data safe, says cyber chief
A-League players arrested for alleged yellow card betting racket; no need to replace Medicare cards after MediSecure cyber hack; Pesutto apologises and settles defamation actions. Follow updates here.
- Analysis
- Government Observed
Labor’s green superpower plan will need a new public service
Expertise in green hydrogen, photonic quantum physics, large-scale lithium batteries and next-generation mineralogy are not skills you typically see on Canberra CVs.
NDIS rorters push to spend more before reforms take effect
Unscrupulous providers are pushing participants in the disability scheme to spend up before changes limit cost growth of the $44 billion scheme.
The 14 measures you might have missed
From fast-tracked passports to sweet potato levies, there are many more things in the 1000 pages of federal budget documents than you might imagine. Here are some of them.
- Updated
Contractors in the firing line as public service headcount soars
The number of bureaucrats has increased nearly 10 per cent in one year alone and some $1.8 billion has been allocated to overhaul staffing at Services Australia.
Smart wallet encryption to get $23.4m budget boost
Amid a wave of identity theft, $11 million has also been pledged over four years to upgrade the Credential Protection Register.
- Opinion
- Public service
Why headcount matters when it comes to budgets
As any finance chief will attest, the number of bums on seats tells you most of what you need to know about an organisation’s underlying size and costs.
China admits to firing flares near Australian chopper: PM
China admits helicopter was not in Chinese territory says Albanese; slow housing pipeline worries Chalmers; Stormy Daniels testifies. Follow updates here.
- Updated
Health portal ‘plagued by incomplete records and poor usability’
Poor usability and incomplete records are frustrating uptake of the My Health Record portal, while the Productivity Commission estimates benefits of around $5.4 billion a year if it can be made to work.
Size of Victorian government to be cut for first time in 15 years
Tight control over salaries and operating expenses will result in reduced average expenditure of 2.2 per cent over forward estimates.
Israel warns Palestinians to evacuate Rafah ahead of possible attacks
Eastern Rafah residents told to evacuate; Chalmers warns against slash-and-burn approach to spending; Qantas settlement a quick win for consumers; murdered Australian surfers identified in Mexico. How the day unfolded.
How your electric car is watching your every move
Electric vehicle makers are among the worst offenders when it comes to protecting the personal data of their customers, and Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind is worried about it.
- Analysis
- Government Observed
Nordic paradox: how male resentment fuels domestic abuse
Closing gender pay gaps fuels domestic violence, pointing to the deep challenges to stop the societal scourge.