Department of Parliamentary Services chief blasted over spy cameras and pipe bombs

Surveillance of whistleblowers could breach parliamentary privilege.

27 May, 2014

Endeavour Energy hit with class action over $200 mil Blue Mountains bushfire claim

Victims of the Blue Mountains bushfires in October 2013 have launched a class action against Endeavour Energy over an alleged failure to trim trees that fell on electrical conductors and burst into flames.

20 May, 2014

Full New South Wales Government Ministry List under Premier Mike Baird

New NSW Premier Mike Baird has moved quickly to rearrange his front bench by protecting good performers.

22 April, 2014

Why public servants should be impartial

Australian Public Service Commissioner, Stephen Sedgwick, argues that those employed by the government have long been asked to exercise judgement and discretion if entering into public debate.

22 April, 2014

Queensland government hits Underground Coal Gasification player Linc Energy with environmental damage charges

Anger and accusations fly over why an official investigation took nine months with little detail of what damage was caused.

15 April, 2014

Federal Attorney General validates private sector ID checks

Electronic efficiency flicks the switch for national verification-as-a-service.

6 March, 2014

Mobile fingerprint harvesting gets cold shoulder from cops

Neither police nor privacy protectors are keen on the prospect of keeping dabs on those not convicted of a crime.

20 February, 2014

CPSU prepares to brawl Abbott over cuts and conditions

Federal public servants and their union are gearing up for a once in a generation battle over entitlements, conditions and the future of the public service.

13 February, 2014

Legal lessons from the Queensland Health Payroll Report

By Michael Grosser* The Queensland Government’s procurement practices and the acceptance of the role of probity advisors have evolved considerably since 2007 when it commenced the procurement activity for the Queensland Health Payroll System. Probity is now recognised by Queensland Government agencies, statutory bodies and Government Owned Corporations as being an integral part of how […]

23 January, 2014

QLD’s ban on IBM stays put as state government sues for damages

By Julian Bajkowski Queensland premier Campbell Newman has confirmed that a ban on IBM securing new public sector business in the state is still standing after the government commenced legal action for damages late last week in the Supreme Court of Queensland. A spokesman for the Premier told Government News that there has been “no […]

9 December, 2013

Lehman payback to burned councils inches closer

By Julian Bajkowski Local governments and ratepayers financially stung by the collapse of merchant bank Lehman Brothers are poised to recover close to 50 cents in the dollar from their losses after lawyers representing dozens of councils said liquidators of the failed institution had finally agreed to a settlement, conditional on Court approvals. Litigation funder […]

2 December, 2013

O’Farrell compromises over development law battle with councils

By Paul Hemsley New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell has yielded, at least in part, to demands from councils that he keep his key election promise to return planning control to local governments after Minister for Planning Brad Hazzard indicated the Macquarie Street may now compromise over electorally unpopular new planning legislation. The Premier’s concession […]

19 September, 2013

NSW councils mount fresh attack on new state planning laws

By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell is facing a fresh revolt in the state’s local government sector over controversial changes to planning powers after the peak group for councils warned it could hit Macquarie Street and big developers where it hurts the most – development approvals. Local Government NSW […]

11 September, 2013

New crackdown laws for NSW councils

By Julian Bajkowski The New South Wales state government has ushered in the start of a fresh financial year by warning the state’s councils they must now comply with sweeping new powers that give Local Government Minister Don Page the ability to suspend dysfunctional municipalities. Councils across the state on Monday were issued with a […]

2 July, 2013