How We Think

To deliberate or to disclose? That is also the question that has vexed Freedom of Information (FOI) decision-makers since the very first days of the Freedom of Information Act, 1982 (the FOI Act) and continues to confound us in 2024. For those uninitiated in the FOI world, ‘deliberative matter’ is a conditional exemption that seeks to protect the Commonwealth Government, its Ministers and Australian Public Service (APS) staff members’ ‘thinking space.’

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) recently highlighted several crucial lessons in their “Audit Lessons” on Grants Administration. While managing grants may not always be front of mind, it remains one of the most impactful ways for the Commonwealth to achieve targeted policy outcomes.

So, you’ve embarked upon a complex procurement project and you know you need an external probity advisor, but how do you know if you need a legal probity advisor or a non-legal probity advisor? What’s the difference anyway and when do you need which one?

The last few weeks have been big ones for public service AI. To understand why, it's worth reflecting on how actually disruptive AI is shaping up to be for regulators.

In our highly connected world, it’s rare to leave work and not receive an email, phone call, or text message that re-opens the metaphorical work door. Starting from 26 August 2024, employees will have a new ‘Right-to-Disconnect’ outside of work hours. In the case of small businesses, they will have an additional year, i.e. until August 2025, to comply with the changes.

To many, the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) means very little. For some, it is just an acronym. For others, it’s just a set of numbers – and they’re relatively big numbers, with an equally big price tag.