Controlling the economic narrative is crucial if governments are to maintain political momentum. The challenge with The Voice Referendum, set for the 14th of October, is that the Albanese Government’s policy agenda will be drowned out by an election style campaign, Yes or No for the next 6 weeks. Current polling indicates the referendum will fail with potentially three […]

Last month I commented on the importance of lifting productivity up the priority list for governments and industry across Australia – if we are to retain and improve our living standards.   Treasurer Jim Chalmers has reported that Australians will be 40 per cent poorer by 2063 if the federal government is unable to turnaround lacklustre […]

“When the government changes the country changes,” famously said by former PM Paul Keating in 1996 prior to the Howard landslide.  Never have these words been truer, as the Albanese Government drives its agenda across the whole gamut of economic, cultural, and institutional reform underpinning Australian society.  With Federal Parliament resuming next week don’t be […]

The French Philosopher Voltaire was born in 1694 and came up with ideas about freedom of speech, tolerance, reason, and freedom of religious belief. He fought to make sure people were tolerant and accepted everyone as they were. Voltaire it seems did not want individuals who were different to be persecuted. He also believed that there […]

Does anyone remember an occasion when there was so much attention given to NOT renewing the employment contract of a senior public servant? Dr Philip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank, will complete his term on the 17th of September this year, following an extraordinary period of public media reporting and political speculation.   For most of […]

August is shaping up to be a fiery month for Queensland Parliament, with two weeks of Budget Estimates Hearings ahead of sittings resuming next week, providing a tangible opportunity for the Opposition to get departmental data from critical areas such as housing and health.  The context for these sitting-weeks includes the AFR’s reporting of a state […]

A quick google of the word integrity comes up with 5 personal attributes: values-focused, honest, considerate, exemplary character, and accountable.   Does integrity matter in public administration? You bet!  The very covenant that solidifies our trust in the Westminster System has been sorely tested by the damning findings from the Royal Commission’s investigation into the Robodebt […]

Facts matter and the truth can hurt, but that shouldn’t stop individuals, leaders, businesses and institutions from dealing with the realities of life. As Homo sapiens (Latin ‘wise human’), our big brains enable us to think and feel at greater depth than any other animal.  Humankind has achieved extraordinary highs and abominable lows, but the impact of technology […]

Opportunities in business – or in life, for that matter – rarely come along at the perfect time, or in the perfect form. The greatest success stories – such as the chance discovery of penicillin or the accidental invention of removable “post-it” notes – are often completely unplanned. This can also be true of securing […]