Thought Leadership

COMMENT It is a cliché, but sunlight is the greatest disinfectant with a landscape that is bleached with the sun’s glare leaving little hidden from view. People can see a landscape for miles and navigate their way in full knowledge that in general, hazards will be visible. The situation is…

COVID-19 has placed enormous demands on the public sector, stretching public servants at national, state and local government levels. Working on both the public health and economic responses, many public servants report working harder than ever before. Yet once the acute phase of the crisis passes, the work is unlikely…

12 August 2021. 1pm AEST. Insights for the public sector on Australia’s COVID-19 response. Watch the Highlights. The Mandarin‘s Melissa Coade was joined by Jane Halton AO, Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, co-chair of the COVAX initiative, and former secretary of the Australian Department of Health, and…

Australia’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic was all about going ‘hard and early’ and, with other government measures, it looked as though political leadership was capable of rising to meet the challenge of the virus head-on — but Dr Don Russell says that is slowly slipping away. When Don…

It was a day to discover, learn about and master the art of meaningful communication strategies. Great communication won’t make a poor policy good, but poor communication can guarantee that policy doesn’t deliver. Add to that, the third decade of the 21st century is bringing a perfect storm of issues…

It was a day to discover, learn about and master the art of meaningful communication strategies. Great communication won’t make a poor policy good, but poor communication can guarantee that policy doesn’t deliver. Add to that, the third decade of the 21st century is bringing a perfect storm of issues…

Working out which powers can be relinquished is the first step agencies can make towards Aboriginal self-determination, says Rueben Berg. There has been a big push in recent years for self-determination to underpin government’s relationships with First Nations peoples. But it’s not always clear to public servants how this principle…

Even the flexible work advocates at VEOHRC worried about providing frontline services remotely during lockdown — and were surprised at how well it worked. We all know someone whose boss insisted they could not possibly work from home — until the pandemic forced them to. You might even be one…

Only two countries have had three female heads of government: Finland and New Zealand. Even these are relatively recent achievements. Finnish PM Sanna Marin has held her role since 2019, whereas Jacinda Ardern became the Kiwi PM in 2017. “As Australians we have a loving and competitive relationship with New…

In times of peril, citizens typically turn to their leaders and governing institutions for support. The 2019–20 bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic have seen more Australians relying on governments for assistance and action to ensure their core human needs, such as safety and security, continue to be met. A new…

Watch the Highlights Reel on YouTube Americans are about to vote, so what does this mean for the world? The Mandarin’s Managing Editor Chris Johnson, and Play By The Rules author Michael Pembroke discussed the state of US leadership, COVID-19 and the rise of China. Play By The Rules This…

Recently, the ADC Forum and Australian National University’s Public Policy and Societal Impact Hub came together to host a roundtable of business, government and academic experts as part of a broader series on Australia’s future. Sean Innis and Matthew Faubel  explain what was learned. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been…

Provide decision makers with the right data at the right time, says Julian Hebden. The world is swimming in data, and each passing year only adds to the deluge. Julian Hebden All this data can facilitate decision-making — but can create its own problems if not managed carefully. “We’re really…

Change is a constant in public sector work, so ensure you understand how it affects your field, be upfront about risk, and don’t ignore the small opportunities. The world is changing, and public servants need to ensure they have the skills to adapt. Greg Wilson But that’s nothing new, says…

Malcolm Turnbull has bemoaned it. Our own Bernard Keane has criticised it. The Thodey Review has raised concerns about it. The ‘cult of the consultant’ has a grip on the public sector – like never before. We have asked members of The Select Committee – The Mandarin Brains Trust exactly…