Criterion Conferences will be hosting this conference in Canberra, with the aim of ‘achieving strategic objectives through accountability and performance improvement.’ A recent report by the Australian National Audit Office found that many government agencies continue to find it difficult to develop and implement effective KPI’s. Consequently this has prohibited effective monitoring and assessment of programs and their effect on … more
Monthly Archives:: November 2011
James Whelan | Government slashes public sector to meet its budget surplus promise
The government will take a knife to the public sector in order to meet its promise of returning the budget to surplus in the next financial year. Releasing the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook today, the government said it would reduce the baby bonus, scrutinize rorts of the living away from home allowance, and postpone some spending measures. But perhaps … more
Ben Eltham | The Golden Road to Surplus
The latest Treasury figures show why Australia’s economy remains the envy of the rich world. It’s another early Christmas bonus for the Gillard Government, writes Ben Eltham. As first published in New Matilda Step back from all the sound and fury about budget surpluses and the European debt crisis for a moment, and have an unbiased look at the latest … more
Why Australia DOESN’T need Public Service Cuts | James Whelan
James Whelan – “Most Australians support government exercising an active role in society and the economy…” With the Federal Government expected to announce major spending cuts as part of its mid-year economic forecast, debate on the size and role of the public sector has reignited. CPD’s James Whelan argues that the community does not support drastic cuts to public services. … more
Ben Eltham | You Wouldn’t Read About It
The Gillard Government’s media inquiry has provided the big players with an opportunity to deny there’s anything amiss in the industry. That’s rank hypocrisy, argues Ben Eltham First published in New Matilda here. Here are three riddles. If a large industry with significant public profile and a demonstrated recent history of legal malpractice tried to pretend that there is essentially … more
James Whelan | Debating the PS Burden: A View From Both Sides
Public sector budgeting issues have come into focus as the government stands by its purely political commitment to run a surplus next year in the face of strong economic arguments that suggest a continued deficit. So is the Public Serivce bloated, inefficient and unnecessary or stretched, effective and in high demand? The ongoing debate between IPA contributor Julie Novak and … more
A big year for CPD – Add your voice to ours!
It has been a big year for progressive politics and a big year for CPD. Take a look below at what we have been up to in recent months – providing an alternative blueprint for refugee policy, ideas for protecting our ocean wealth and evidence of the need to base public service reform on reality not rhetoric. Change can happen … more
James Whelan responds to Julie Novak | Evidence please, not more bashing of our public sector
This Monday. Julie Novak from the IPA once again targeted public service cuts as a necessary step toward a surplus budget. In her most recent article published on Online Opinion, she took aim at our report on the public service. Among her targets are the “policy advisory, administrative and regulatory roles” of the public service that are an “unnecessary burden” … more
The Australian | Time to tap into think-tank wisdom
Last saturday CPD was involved in the Battle of the Think Tanks, an event that showcased CPD’s political ideas (Link) Leonie Phillips Principal of Thought Broker writes in The Australian what she feels each of the Think Tanks involved have as their own unique vision and opinion. She adds that think tanks play an important role in our society … more