The federal government’s recent reforms to the Commonwealth procurement rules (CPRs) mark a pivotal moment in the relationship among the public service, suppliers and the community — and offer a clear opportunity to strengthen accountability, value creation and trust in public sector purchasing. From this month, Australian government agencies will
With this one simple trick, Australia’s housing supply shortfall could quickly be reduced by an estimated 82,000 homes. That’s the number of dwellings that developers are ready to start building in urban growth areas, but can’t because of a lack of sewers, roads and other enabling infrastructure, according to a
Here’s how the shape and size of the public service has changed over the past 12 months. An analysis of 2024-25 workforce data has revealed that federal public service numbers have continued to grow under a second-term Albanese government. In the 12 months prior to June 2025, the number of
Some government entities failed to properly apply rules that require the disclosure of key management personnel in departments and agencies, according to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. In its audit report on the state’s 2024-25 finances, VAGO said various material entities failed to provide the required detailed disclosures on senior management
Australia’s State of the Service report has celebrated the growth of public trust in government services. The annual document is a requirement of the Public Service Act 1999, with the latest report painting a strong picture of the Commonwealth public service workforce and workplaces, integrity and capability. APS commissioner Dr
Bureaucracy has always been a part of us and always will be. The metaphor of record-keeping is common in religion. Our sins and judgment are portrayed as an impartial, bureaucratic audit of lives. Our deeds are recorded in two ledgers, with the final tally determining our eternal fate. The image
Technology vendors with a history of cost blowouts and weak delivery on federal contracts will soon face an internal watchlist of serious underperformers, under a new Department of Finance crackdown. In a clear sign of procurement muscle-flexing following a litany of costly major tech-wreck failures illuminated by an inquiry by
A proposed major overhaul of personnel security at the Australian Taxation Office has been put on ice until at least February, after the intervention of the Australian Services Union over concerns about onerous new requirements ostensibly necessitated by the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF). In what is likely to be
A new Australian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AAIS) will commence at the start of next year to complement a broader AI strategy the government plans to release before the end of 2025. Sitting under the umbrella of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), the institute will advise the
The way a national redress scheme exceeding $5 billion has been managed by the Department of Social Services (DSS) has been deemed partly effective overall, with improvements recommended for governance arrangements, administering processes, monitoring and reporting. An Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) review of the scheme — which was established
With the 2026 national census rapidly approaching, it is more important than ever for Australia to collate ethnicity data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2024 reversal of its decision to collate such data is a significant setback for Australia’s ability to understand itself and, crucially, to build the social cohesion
Defence personnel in the United States need to take greater care with their digital footprint lest they inadvertently dob themselves in to the country’s enemies, a report from the Government Accountability Office says. The GAO released a review of the Department of Defence’s management of technology risks. It found Defence
The federal government’s recent reforms to the Commonwealth procurement rules (CPRs) mark a pivotal moment in the relationship among the public service, suppliers and the community — and offer a clear opportunity to strengthen accountability, value creation and trust in public sector purchasing. From this month, Australian government agencies will
With this one simple trick, Australia’s housing supply shortfall could quickly be reduced by an estimated 82,000 homes. That’s the number of dwellings that developers are ready to start building in urban growth areas, but can’t because of a lack of sewers, roads and other enabling infrastructure, according to a
Here’s how the shape and size of the public service has changed over the past 12 months. An analysis of 2024-25 workforce data has revealed that federal public service numbers have continued to grow under a second-term Albanese government. In the 12 months prior to June 2025, the number of
Some government entities failed to properly apply rules that require the disclosure of key management personnel in departments and agencies, according to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. In its audit report on the state’s 2024-25 finances, VAGO said various material entities failed to provide the required detailed disclosures on senior management
Australia’s State of the Service report has celebrated the growth of public trust in government services. The annual document is a requirement of the Public Service Act 1999, with the latest report painting a strong picture of the Commonwealth public service workforce and workplaces, integrity and capability. APS commissioner Dr
Bureaucracy has always been a part of us and always will be. The metaphor of record-keeping is common in religion. Our sins and judgment are portrayed as an impartial, bureaucratic audit of lives. Our deeds are recorded in two ledgers, with the final tally determining our eternal fate. The image
Technology vendors with a history of cost blowouts and weak delivery on federal contracts will soon face an internal watchlist of serious underperformers, under a new Department of Finance crackdown. In a clear sign of procurement muscle-flexing following a litany of costly major tech-wreck failures illuminated by an inquiry by
A proposed major overhaul of personnel security at the Australian Taxation Office has been put on ice until at least February, after the intervention of the Australian Services Union over concerns about onerous new requirements ostensibly necessitated by the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF). In what is likely to be
A new Australian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AAIS) will commence at the start of next year to complement a broader AI strategy the government plans to release before the end of 2025. Sitting under the umbrella of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), the institute will advise the
The way a national redress scheme exceeding $5 billion has been managed by the Department of Social Services (DSS) has been deemed partly effective overall, with improvements recommended for governance arrangements, administering processes, monitoring and reporting. An Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) review of the scheme — which was established
With the 2026 national census rapidly approaching, it is more important than ever for Australia to collate ethnicity data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2024 reversal of its decision to collate such data is a significant setback for Australia’s ability to understand itself and, crucially, to build the social cohesion
Defence personnel in the United States need to take greater care with their digital footprint lest they inadvertently dob themselves in to the country’s enemies, a report from the Government Accountability Office says. The GAO released a review of the Department of Defence’s management of technology risks. It found Defence
