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Digital switch could do away with carrying a driver’s licence
A national digital ID system would allow people to confirm their age without having to hand over sensitive data, governance expert Victor Dominello says.
Contractors and consultants in crosshairs of anti-corruption watchdog
Corruption watchdog chief Paul Brereton says there is an “inherent friction” between a private sector driven by profit and government objectives of “delivering services”.
The lazy thing to do is hire a consultant: public service boss
Health department secretary Blair Comley says this option is often a poor substitute for managing and increasing a team’s capability.
NACC boss Paul Brereton hits back at his critics
The anti-corruption watchdog has faced fierce criticism over the past year. On Tuesday commissioner Paul Brereton sought to set the record straight.
The public sector unit saving Canberra millions on private consultants
The in-house government consultant says it’s been well received, with about 75 per cent of its public service clients saying it’s better than the private sector.
July 2025
AI, data and climate targets: public sector wish list for productivity
Senior public servants have spelled out their priorities for the government’s Productivity Roundtable.
‘I really worry’: Public service boss expresses WFH concerns
Health department secretary Blair Comley says poor office attendance will have a long-term impact on workplace culture and building networks.
Avoid overregulating AI, public servants warn
Senior officials say the public sector should be a “modest follower” on artificial intelligence, after already experiencing problems with service delivery.
How this law firm tripled its workload in a year
Top-tier firm Clayton Utz reasserted its public sector dominance, but a national mid-tier has doubled its Canberra staff and tripled its government contracts.
Paterson issues mea culpa for key Coalition election pledge
The shadow finance spokesman acknowledged the Coalition got it wrong over an election pledge, and warned the government not to stymie artificial intelligence.
May 2025
Government Services Summit 2025
The Australian Financial Review Government Services Summit 2025 promises stimulating and forward-looking discussions on service transformation and digital leadership across all levels of government.
July 2023
ATO captures billions of dollars from tax cheats with AI
The ATO is using artificial intelligence to trawl through its large data sets and deliver new insights that are impossible for humans to identify.
July 2023
Identity reforms open new era of personalised government
The ambitious aim to have a working digital identity system up and running by the middle of next year paves the way for a raft of personalised government services.
We won’t be held hostage by big tech: Shorten
Bill Shorten says government must stand up to big technology firms and consultants to ensure services benefit citizens and costly failures are avoided.
Be sceptical when big tech promises to self-regulate AI: eSafety boss
“Frankly I don’t think AI pledges are going to work”, Australia’s eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant has warned.
Put your licence away – Australia’s digital ID could be here next year
The days of Australians scrambling to pull together their passport and multiple personal identity documents to use online services could soon be over.
Government online should be a one-stop-shop. But don’t expect it soon
State and federal governments are trying to make access to digital services easier, but there is still a long way to go.
Robo-debt ‘bullies, sycophants’ not the public service Shorten knows
A cabal of bullies and sycophants was responsible for suppressing frank and fearless advice about robo-debt, Bill Shorten says.
SAP invests in new Aussie facility to target critical infrastructure deals
The Australian arm of German software giant SAP has opened a new sovereign cloud computing facility, at an undisclosed location, to meet increased demands from government agencies and some companies.
AI misinformation attacks are inevitable, warns US expert
AI-fuelled misinformation and cyberattacks are inevitable and organisations should be running playbooks to respond, according to a US security expert.
Gallagher to reset consulting after PwC, robo-debt
A new approach to hiring consultants is being rolled out in the federal government to ensure reports are robust and not written to simply endorse government decisions.
Why we should stop demonising consultants
Canberra’s jihad against consultants has turned ideological, with a McCarthy-like vendetta against outside expertise.
New thinking, new leaders reboot digital government
How bureaucrats are retooling services for the public will dominate The Australian Financial Review Government Services Summit next week.
How government can safely embrace AI
The philosophy and practice of generative AI in government must be safe, smart and sensible.
Robo-debt to add to anti-corruption body’s already long to-do list
National Anti-Corruption Commission boss Paul Brereton said 44 referrals have already been received by the new watchdog, two days after it got started.
