The Westminster Tradition

Tom Loosemore of Public Digital was instrumental in the capital R Reset of Universal Credit. In this interview, he tells Caroline there were no beanbags, but a lot of multi-D. This interview adds nuance and richness to the picture sketched in our previous Universal Credit episodes. Some of the key insights include: Fundamental problem of the original approach was thinking of Universal Credit as a...

In this second episode on Universal Credit, we talk about how the team transitioned from catastrophic failure to remarkable success. We cover: The barriers to test and learn - from the need for certainty by leaders, to Treasury requirements for business cases, to the need to support Ministers The lessons learnt by the 10 year in role SRO Neil Couling [sorry CCB called you Neil Coulson!!] - includi...

In the shadow of worries about the NDIS, do we even believe that big system reform in Australia is do-able any more? Is the juice worth the squeeze? In this first of a two part series, we explore the example of Universal Credit, a 15 year long reform agenda in the UK to combine 6 benefits into one, and, more importantly, seeking to transform the relationship of the citizen to work and welfare.  In...

In a wide ranging discussion, Alison, Caroline and Danielle come together to discuss the gems from the Amanda Vanstone interview, which examined how power, responsibility and decision-making played out at the top of government during her two decades as a federal minister. Vanstone's approach to being a minister - asking questions until understanding, visiting programs unannounced, and taking...

Former Senator Amanda Vanstone offers a masterclass in ministerial leadership, delivering sharp insights from her 21-year political career that are as relevant today as they were during her time in Prime Minister Howard's Cabinet. Cutting through bureaucratic excuses with remarkable clarity, she reveals how effective ministers must take full responsibility while developing practical strategie...

Efficiency is in the news ... but what does it mean? How should public servants work on improving efficiency? Should we be focused on system reform, ending whole entitlements, or nibbling at the edges? How to know what kind of budget savings task you are in - deep restructuring or a cyclical contraction / expansion? Is front line v back office a helpful distinction? When are external reviews helpf...

Surfing a wave of listener feelings about this topic, Danielle takes us through the experience of public service recruitment from the other side. Danielle and Alison argue about the merits of requiring 'in house' recruitment before externally advertising positions The role that conservative (perhaps inexpert??) local budget management plays in driving a cycle of vacancies and short term...

The starter's gun has gone on Australia's national elections for 2025 and Parliament has been prorogued. In this episode, former head of Cabinet Office and keeper of the Caretaker Conventions, Alison answers Caroline and Danielle's increasingly pointed questions, and we end with arguing about the importance of formatting. Stay tuned to the end for some fabulous insider advice for ma...

Drawing on overwhelming feedback from our listeners, in this episode we unpack the experience of being recruited into the public sector (or ghosted along the way).  Danielle takes us through What goes in Role Descriptions (hint: it shouldn't be slabs of legislation) The madness of defined requirements like 'driving' and 'interstate travel' (and whether Caroline's sist...

How did the abuse at Oakden remain hidden for so long? And what finally brought it to light? In this episode we discuss: why families might not complain how small, isolated outposts can hide terrible things the importance of following up on things that don’t feel quite right. Intro grab from the RN Background Briefing episode A Failure to Care: The Oakden Nursing Home , featuring Lorraine Baff, wh...

In light of this week's decision that the NACC will pursue investigations into six public officials, we thought we would repost this episode from December 2024 explaining why the NACC's original decision to take no further action needed to be revisited, with a little explainer up front on the latest news. You can find out more about the NACC's announcement on 18th February 2025 here...

For over a decade, the state government vacillated about whether or not to privatise the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Facility. Once the 2007 accreditation crisis had passed, however, it never reached the top of the ‘to do’ list. Meanwhile, investment in facilities and staffing were endlessly postponed pending a decision.  In this episode, we discuss: the dangers of decay while waiting for s...

We return for 2025 with a series on the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Facility, an SA Government run facility whose scandalous conditions and institutionalised elder abuse were exposed in 2017, prompting (among other things) a Commonwealth Royal Commission.  In this episode, we unpack a missed opportunity in 2007 to move Oakden from a mid-twentieth century asylum to a modern aged care facilit...

What do Secretaries really think when junior staff ask for career advice? Why are silos so impermeable? And should Christmas really be cancelled? Join Danielle and Caroline as they take Mike through listener questions. This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While...

Mike Kaiser, recently departed head of the Queensland Public Service, joins us to chat about the interface between political offices and the public service, lessons from robodebt, why delivery is everything in government and the secret of leadership.  This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bu...

Danielle unpacks the recently released APS State of the Service, with a look over our should at where we’ve come from - from the 1976 Coombs Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration, to the 2019 Thodey Review of the APS.  How are women, First Nations and people with disability going in the APS? What about class? This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elde...

Keeping track of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and Robodebt is tricky - first there's no investigation, then there's some kind of review, then there's a search for an eminent person.... In this episode, we talk about where things are at, managing conflicts of interest, and whether corruption always involves brown paper bags. For Rick Morton's reporting on this: Eight...

Post Office’s internal inquiries never got to the bottom of the situation. Here we unpack how to choose an investigator, getting the information to the person, and what do with a report. Opening grab from Sir Anthony Hooper , independent chair of Horizon mediation scheme. Subsequent grab from Mr Beer KC and Paula Vennels, former Post Office Limited Chief Executive. Subsequent grab Mr Beer KC and A...

Post Office leadership commissioned at least 6 different investigations of varying degrees of independence and rigor into complaints about Horizon after 2010. And yet none of them got to the truth. In the next two episodes, we unpack what not to do when setting up inquiries and investigations. Opening grab from Mr Beer KC and Alice Perkins , former Post Office Limited Chair. Subsequent grab from M...

Another great round of questions, thanks! This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right. Please feel free to e...

Thanks for the questions folks! This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right. Please feel free to email us co...

The Australian Public Service Commission has released the findings of its Centralised Code of Conduct Inquiry into Robodebt. Outro grab from The West Wing, Season 3, Episode 10 . This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While we have tried to be as thorough in our r...

In this episode, we look at why Post Office kept prosecuting Sub Post Masters through the lens of Dan Davies' analysis in his new book The Unaccountability Machine . Opening grab from Mr Beer KC (Counsel Assisting) and Alisdair Cameron , CFO and former interim CE of Post Office Ltd. Subsequent grab from Mr Blake KC (Counsel Assisting) and Graham Brander , former Post Office Investigator. Subs...

A massive power imbalance, everyone doing the narrowest version of their jobs, and an overriding culture that assumed postmasters were thieves. These are just some of the ways Post Office ended up prosecuting postmasters for shortfalls that existed only on the computer. Opening grab from Mr Beer KC (Counsel Assisting) and Rob Wilson , former Head of the Royal Mail Group Criminal Law Team. Subseque...

In this episode, former state Minister for Health and the Arts (among others) the Hon John Hill, shares his insights into what Ministers want - and what they need - from the public service. You can buy his book ‘ On being a Minister ’ here - and if you’re brave, share with your Minister! This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always w...