The Conversation

The 'sports rorts' affair shows the government misunderstands the role of the public service

30-01-2020 Author: Andrew Podger, Honorary Professor of Public Policy, Australian National University

Public servants are entirely accountable, ministerial advisers scarcely at all.Shutterstock

The government’s defence of Bridget McKenzie and the prime minister’s call for advice from the head of his department reveal a remarkable misunderstanding (or, less surprisingly, a remarkable misrepresentation) of the respective roles of...

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