Paddy Gourley

Paddy Gourley is a superannuated Commonwealth public servant.

Paddy's recent articles

Spooks under the microscope

Spooks under the microscope

In 2023, the federal government set up a review of the National Intelligence Community (the NIC). It was to report in the first half of 2024.

Kim Beazley bombs out

Kim Beazley bombs out

March hasn’t been one of the better months for Kim Beazley, the former Hawke and Keating Government minister, leader of the federal ALP and governor of Western Australia and now chairman of the Council of the Australian War Memorial.

Mike Pezzullo and the Murdoch comedy company

Mike Pezzullo and the Murdoch comedy company

The editorial authorities at The Australian newspaper have splendid senses of humour if their indulgence of the laugh-a-line contributions of Peter Jennings, Greg Sheridan and Henry Ergas are anything to go by.

Public servants' pay: Lambie's on the money

Public servants' pay: Lambie's on the money

Senator Jacqui Lambie is incandescent about the salaries of secretaries of Commonwealth departments and she wants to “slash” them from their million dollar levels (approx) to no more than $438000, the current pay for the Commonwealth Treasurer.

Hugh White is stirring the China pot again

Hugh White is stirring the China pot again

For more than 40 years Hugh White has been an important analyst of Australian defence and foreign policy.

Elitists touched up by one of their own - The Callick case

Elitists touched up by one of their own - The Callick case

The Murdoch Press sure knows how to whip up an eye-catching headline – it may be its longest suit. True to form, on 19 January 25 The Weekend Australian ran a corker – “HOW THE AMERICAN HATERS IN OUR MIDST GO EASY ON CHINA.”

Rumours of ASPI's death are exaggerated

Rumours of ASPI's death are exaggerated

When a review of Commonwealth funding of “strategic policy work”, together with the government’s response, was released just before Christmas, the howls from associates of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute were probably audible on the Moon.

Gina Rinehart, Kim Williams and the ABC

Gina Rinehart, Kim Williams and the ABC

The Iron Ore Lady, Gina Rinehart, wants to reduce taxes and government spending to help the less fortunate. As part of her Grand Program, she’d like to get rid of the ABC. No matter it’s the most trusted news source in the country – sacrifices must be made if Gina’s compassion is to be given a fuller voice. And with one swing of her axe on the ABC’s neck, she’d save a billion dollars a year which, as it isn’t hers, she’d palm off to those more in need than she is, apparently.

The Australian Public Service and the perils of Trumpism

The Australian Public Service and the perils of Trumpism

“The first thing we’ll do is sack those 36000 public servants in Canberra” - David Littleproud, leader of Australia’s National Party.

The bell has tolled for Pezzullo's gong

The bell has tolled for Pezzullo's gong

It may be that in his post-Public Service life Mr Mike Pezzullo has been watching lots of classic films.

Could Albanese do better with less help?

Could Albanese do better with less help?

Senior political office is a hazardous place where job security can be fortuitous.

Messing up the sense of the census

Messing up the sense of the census

It’s hard to imagine how the government could have made a bigger mess of questions about gender identity and sexual orientation for the 2026 Census.

A timid PM, frozen in the glare of the Keating headlights

A timid PM, frozen in the glare of the Keating headlights

When the former Prime Minister, Paul Keating, recently claimed that Australia was losing its “strategic autonomy” and turning into “the 51st State of the United States”, the current Prime Minister froze in the headlights.

ASIO, Burgess and the miasma of spookdom

ASIO, Burgess and the miasma of spookdom

Collecting, sifting and presenting information on national security is not the toughest job in the world although it can be tricky.

When elected the Albanese Government inherited a federal public service rather like a semi-regurgitated dog’s breakfast

When elected the Albanese Government inherited a federal public service rather like a semi-regurgitated dog’s breakfast

Attempts have been made to tidy things up but too much reliance has been place on administrative measures rather than the solidity of new or amended primary legislation. While some commendable things have been done, the overall program has been short on ambition and imagination, and progress has been oh so slow.

“Ill-begotten siblings”: Australia and the United States of America

“Ill-begotten siblings”: Australia and the United States of America

Allan Behm has been about a bit.

Rodents in the ranks

Rodents in the ranks

The experience of recent injuries to the pro-integrity culture in the federal public service are rather like sensations, in dream or reality, of rodents scurrying up the legs of one’s pyjama pants. Disconcerting, unwelcome and potentially eye-watering.

How governments hide their activities

How governments hide their activities

Primary school students learn in their early days that accountability is a keystone of democracy. Not far into secondary school that reassuring notion is tempered as schoolies get to appreciate that for governments accountability equals political risk. It’s a pain in ministerial necks and should be kept within bounds sufficient to minimise electoral discomfort.

Accepting reality: the future will not be made in Australia

Accepting reality: the future will not be made in Australia

With a couple of minutes Googling, your favourite Martian could be well informed on the role of government in the Australian economy from the moment of the arrival of the British colonialists. It’s been big.

Lehrmann and the engagement of ministerial staff

Lehrmann and the engagement of ministerial staff

In the oceanic commentary on the Bruce Lehrmann cases, little attention seems to have been given as to how he got into Minister Linda Reynolds office in the first place. If he hadn’t all could have been spared the terrible things that have happened as a consequence of his admission – the catastrophic ignominies he brought upon himself, the agonies of Ms Higgins and the reputational injuries to many who’ve got within a bull’s roar of the saga – Minister Reynolds and her chief of staff, the ACT public prosecutor Drumgold, Judge Sofronoff and Channel 7 and some of its...

A victory against the flow of the tide

A victory against the flow of the tide

Under the Morrison and Albanese governments it may well be that the FoI Act has been more restrictively administered than at any time since it came into effect in 1982.

Government shock as subordinating foreign and defence policy to US strangely unpopular with voters

Government shock as subordinating foreign and defence policy to US strangely unpopular with voters

A recent Essential Poll published in The Guardian proves yet again that silly questions often get silly answers.

Two cheeks of the same backside: Galloways UK victory foretells ALP spanking

Two cheeks of the same backside: Galloways UK victory foretells ALP spanking

The Albanese ALP (Australian Labor Party) has become a true peoples government in the sense that its timidity restricts it from doing just about anything that might cause a political ripple.

The Home Affairs security "GURU"

The Home Affairs security "GURU"

With the scalp of poor Mr Mike Pezzullo dangling from his belt, The Age/Sydney Morning Herald journalist Michael Bachelard continues to take a terrier-like interest in the Department of Home Affairs.

How long does it take to skin a cat?

How long does it take to skin a cat?

Well, if the cat is the referral of public servants by the Robodebt Royal Commission for code of conduct investigations now being dealt by the Public Service Commission, the answer is a long time.

Mike Burgess' "annual threat assessment": Testing our reserves of patience

Mike Burgess' "annual threat assessment": Testing our reserves of patience

For the last few Februaries the Director-General of the ASIO, Mr Mike Burgess, has delivered an annual threat assessment by way of a speech to as many worthies as he can gather before him. Hes no doubt got the 2024 edition well in the works and invitations to the event in the post. Potential invitees should brace themselves by building up their reserves of patience because if hes true to form Burgess will test them to their limit.

Australia's ever expanding security apparatus

Australia's ever expanding security apparatus

Gareth Evans ,former Foreign Minister and the former ASIO head, Alan Wrigley, are likely not the only ones to be dubious about the value of much of the material collected by our security agencies. But most ministers are easily seduced.

Freedom of information laws: grand in theory, dismal in practice

Freedom of information laws: grand in theory, dismal in practice

Accountability only works if information about government is readily available. And who doesnt believe in accountability, at least in theory?

Appointment of Home Affairs Secretary Foster not merit-based

Appointment of Home Affairs Secretary Foster not merit-based

On 1 November 2023 the Minister for the Public Service, Senator Gallagher said in the next stage of reforms to the public service the government would introduce requirements for the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary to conduct merit-based appointment processes for Secretary roles to build rigor into the advice provided to the Prime Minister on candidates.

The time for slow has expired: Reduce reliance on consultants now

The time for slow has expired: Reduce reliance on consultants now

The excessive use of consultants and contract labour was one of the most damaging injuries sustained by the Australian Public Service in the 10 years or so before the 2022 election.

Against the tide: Defence secrecy in a modern age of openness

Against the tide: Defence secrecy in a modern age of openness

In the 1970s a study was undertaken into aspects of management in the Department of Defence. When an honest, conscientious and mildly critical report was provided to the Departments Secretary, Sir Arthur Tange, he scrawled CRANSTON on its front page and gave the relevant file a stiff security classification.

Getting the facts right on departmental tenure

Getting the facts right on departmental tenure

Commentary on the tenure of Secretaries of Commonwealth Government departments is becoming perilous territory as those wading into it continue to make basic errors of fact.

Asleep at the wheel of public service reform

Asleep at the wheel of public service reform

The rehabilitation of the federal public service is a slow waltz one step forward, one sideways and a couple backwards. To stretch the metaphors and with apologies to Don Gibsons fine 1961 hit song, while the administrative ship of state is adrift in a sea of heartbreak, its principal stewards seem half asleep at the wheel.

Martin Flanagans The Empty Honour Board draws us in to an unnatural world

Martin Flanagans The Empty Honour Board draws us in to an unnatural world

The boarding students were far from home and the variable consolations of family life. They were shackled with priestly companions, pledged to lives of celibacy, who also had been removed from their families in their early teens and isolated from society in religious institutions from which they were then turned out, with scant proper preparation, as teachers. How could things not go wrong?

Campbells AUKUS appointment did not meet standards of public service

Campbells AUKUS appointment did not meet standards of public service

There are solid grounds for suspecting that the appointment of Ms Kathryn Campbell, of Robodebt notoriety, to the Department of Defences AUKUS division did not meet the normal standards required for other appointments in the public service. Those responsible for the appointment of Ms Campbell and the suspension of her salary have got little to write home about.

The problem for commentators in the so called "mainstream media

The problem for commentators in the so called "mainstream media

They rely significantly on feeds of material thats not otherwise readily available. As theyre in the news business, they need something new to keep in the hunt.

Lack of tenure core driver of Robodebt disaster

Lack of tenure core driver of Robodebt disaster

Its to be hoped that as much as possible can be squeezed from the Robodebt disaster not only to avoid a repeat but more generally to improve the working of the Australian government and its public service.

Swathes of pro-integrity rhetoric no match for departmental accountability shyness

Swathes of pro-integrity rhetoric no match for departmental accountability shyness

This is a brief, unhappy yarn about the struggle for accountability and integrity in a Commonwealth government organisation. The yarns principal character is the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), now headed by Dr Glyn Davis, the de facto leader of the Australian Public Service (APS). The Department is at the forefront of promoting what it calls a pro-integrity culture and setting an example for others.

Getting public service on an even keel key to better government

Getting public service on an even keel key to better government

It may not be widely appreciated that door knocking religious proselytisers can be kept at bay by insisting they partake in discussions on public administration in exchange for whatever divine light is being diffused. Its not that religion and public administration dont mix; its that public administration is so tedious for all but those triple vaccinated against boredom.

Robodebt and the APS

Robodebt and the APS

If the Australian Public Service and its satellite institutions were to last a thousand years, people will still say The Robodebt was one of its most dismal hours.

The Order of Australia system: a bunyip aristocracy

The Order of Australia system: a bunyip aristocracy

The Order of Australia system is a bunyip aristocracy that reflects the hierarchies of British society in which the high and mighty get the cream and others are left with the skimmed milk.

Glyn Davis struggles to address his troops

Glyn Davis struggles to address his troops

In recent years the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) has in the Christian Advent season delivered an annual address to the Australian Public Service.

Ministerial staff reform vital after Morrison

Ministerial staff reform vital after Morrison

There has been enough talk about ministerial staff in the Commonwealth government over the last couple of years to sink a battleship. Its now time to do something.

Paralysis by analysis: Extravagance clots Michael Pezzullo's security sermon (Canberra Times, Nov 3)

Pezzullo's 2020 list tries to cover everything, a serious failure. As pointed out by US scholars, if policy makers try to address all imaginable threats, security will paralyse government.

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