Writer
Andrew Podger
Andrew Stuart Podger, AO is a retired Australian senior public servant. He is currently Professor of Public Policy at the Australian National University.
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Media professional standards test falls short. Will the government act?
Treasury may consider the news media professional standards test is adequate, but hopefully the Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and her department think differently. Continue reading »
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Action on the Jenkins Report: good progress on behaviour, but more needed on institutional issues
It is now a year since the Jenkins Report on parliamentary standards was published. With the release last week of the Final Report of the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards with its proposed codes of conduct, and the Review of the MOP(S) Act by PM&C reporting earlier in November, we now have the wherewithal Continue reading »
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Whitlam strengthened the public service. Can Albanese do the same?
The Whitlam government fostered a great strengthening of the public service and its policy capacity. Sadly, much of that has been lost with the excessive political controls of more recent governments. Can the Albanese Government reverse some of the decline? Continue reading »
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The Bell report: another mark against the APS leadership
The APS needs leadership that acknowledges the failures of recent years and reminds everyone, from top to bottom, that it is there to serve not only the Government but also the Parliament and the Australian public. Continue reading »
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Matching pay and responsibilities: are secretaries paid too much?
As the Government begins the difficult task of repairing the Australian Public Service (APS) pay and classification system, it also needs to change the membership of the Remuneration Tribunal then ask it to review secretaries’ pay having greater regard for their public sector roles and responsibilities. For too long the Tribunal has relied upon private Continue reading »
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An opportunity to clarify parliamentary roles and responsibilities
The Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards has been charged with developing a code or codes of conduct for people working in the Parliament. While the context is to address the bullying and harassment behaviour revealed by the Jenkins Report, the Committee also has the opportunity to articulate through values statements and codes of conduct Continue reading »
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The Budget and the APS
The budget papers reveal considerable action to progress the Albanese Government’s APS reforms recently set out by Katy Gallagher. However, not all of the budget measures are clear yet, some are questionable and there remain important measures still to be pursued. Continue reading »
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NSW Inquiry into Trade Commissioner appointment has lessons beyond NSW
The former NSW Public Service Commissioner, Graeme Head, provided the Premier with a most carefully considered report on the processes leading to John Barilaro’s appointment as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner. Continue reading »
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Politicisation in Australia – A problem that crosses jurisdictions and parties
The striking evidence of politicisation of public services in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, after the evidence about the Commonwealth, demonstrates that the problem is pervasive across Australian jurisdictions and is not restricted to one side of politics. Continue reading »
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The Gaetjens’ valedictory
I do not know the former Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Phil Gaetjens personally, but others who do and whose judgment I respect have long told me of his competence as both an economist and a manager. Continue reading »
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Reforming the MOP(S) Act and the conduct of ministerial advisers
While the introduction of the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act back in 1984 did thwart an attempt at the time to allow political appointments into the APS and regularised the employment arrangements for the growing numbers of staff of ministers and MPs, the Act has not been reviewed since. Continue reading »
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New Heads of Departments in Canberra
The appointments announced by the Prime Minister on Wednesday 22 June seem mostly sensible, offering the APS a more professional leadership which can both provide strong support for the Government and demonstrate its impartiality in its policy advising and management of programs. Continue reading »
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The Administrative Arrangements Order of the Albanese Government-a curate’s egg
The Albanese ministry and Administrative Arrangements Order represent a considerable improvement on the structures the Morrison Government used, but they could have been much better. Continue reading »
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Next steps: governing well
The Prime Minister elect made a couple of important comments on Saturday night that indicate the early steps he plans to take to begin governing. Continue reading »
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Addressing democracy’s international decline
The theme of the American Society for Public Administration’s annual conference in March was ‘Democracy under Threat’. This was in response not only to troubles in the US but to falling appreciation of democratic principles in other Western countries and the rise of authoritarianism elsewhere. Continue reading »
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If I were the minister for the public service in a new government
Improving the capability of the APS, and making best use of it, is the responsibility of all ministers with the Prime Minister being responsible for setting the overall climate. Continue reading »
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Rebuilding Australian Public Service capability – Part 2
This two-part article sets out the main measures a new Labor Government should take to rebuild the capability of the APS which would not represent a partisan agenda but could attract broad support from the Parliament. Continue reading »
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Rebuilding capability in the Australian Public Service – Part 1
In an article last December I commented on the final report of the Senate Public Administration and Finance References Committee inquiry into the current capability of the APS. Continue reading »
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PM&C is damaging the integrity and reputation of the public service
At the heart of Senator Rex Patrick’s attack on a senior public servant was a call for the public service to be more independent and impartial. Continue reading »
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Australia doesn’t need a royal commission to fix its broken media
A disappointing media diversity report was predictable and largely unhelpful. Here is how to address the genuine problems with the Australian media. Continue reading »
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Partisanship undermines another opportunity for APS reform
A Senate committee’s report on public service capability is not without merit, but the prospect of significant progress is hampered by political motivations. Continue reading »
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Frank and fearless? The insidious politicisation of the public service
Public servants’ independence continues to be eroded by the use of consultants, closer control of communications and weakening of checks and balances. Continue reading »
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Journalism needs more than better protection, it needs better standards
Nearly a decade since two separate reviews recommended an overhaul of media regulation, neither recommendation has been implemented. Continue reading »
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Nuclear submarines: We don’t know the costs and we don’t know the risks
The nuclear submarine deal with the US and the UK upends Australia’s carefully thought out forward planning in defence, without a clear explanation to the nation of the ramifications. Continue reading »
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Fix the means test for a consumer-friendly retirement income system
Australia’s retirement income system needs reform to make it more secure and user friendly. Continue reading »
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Our Democracy Needs Serious Reform
The Australian Government may be right to express concerns about China’s recent domestic and international behaviour under President Xi Jinping. But claims of having superior democratic values might have more credibility if the Government understood and genuinely upheld them. Continue reading »
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Respect for the APS did not last long
Praise of the Australian Public Service for its COVID 19 efforts last year, and appearances of respecting its policy contribution, seem now to have disappeared. The PM’s disdain of the public service as a key institution in our democracy, shown in his response to the Thodey Report in December 2019 and his earlier disparaging of Continue reading »
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Public service must learn from robodebt fiasco
Justice Murphy of the Federal Court castigated the Commonwealth in unprecedented terms in his judgment approving settlement of the class action on behalf of those affected by Robodebt. Continue reading »
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Respecting the distinct roles of the ADF and the APS
The ADF and the APS are institutions in their own right, and are not just subject to the Government’s directions. Their roles should be respected, recognising their commitment to serving the public and their focus on impartiality and the longer-term interests of Australians. Continue reading »
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What values should we expect among the ‘profession of arms’?
Dutton’s ambiguous statement telling soldiers the Government ‘has their back’ has added to the damage. Moreover, he has politicised the system of military honours. Labor deserves no less condemnation for going along with this interference. By not resigning in protest, General Angus Campbell has left uncertainty about the ADF’s commitment to repair the cultural problems Continue reading »
