By Julian Bajkowski The federal government’s official style guide is set to become a pay-per-view exercise after the Department of Finance and Deregulation revealed that it will imminently gavel-off the public sector reference manual to private operators to cut costs. A tender notification issued by Finance reveals that the agency intends to pursue a “seeking […]
30 January, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The parliamentary committee tasked with evaluating the merits of holding a referendum on amending the Constitution to give financial recognition to local government has recommended that a poll be held at the forthcoming federal election this year. Published today, the ‘yes’ recommendation from the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local […]
24 January, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Brisbane and Ballarat have become the latest local government areas to get the eligibility tick of approval under the federally funded Digital Hubs program, as Communications Minister Stephen Conroy plays Santa and continues the government’s non-stop charm offensive to spruik the National Broadband Network. The Hubs are a pivotal part of the […]
19 December, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski The agency tasked with coordinating whole-of-government technology strategy has been split in two by a significant shake-up in the wake of the resignation and retirement of federal Chief Information Officer Ann Steward. A statement issued by the Australian Government Information Management Office has named Glenn Archer as the new Australian Government Chief […]
17 December, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski The odds of a major policy shake-up in central technology strategy for federal agencies have shortened dramatically after the long-anticipated resignation of whole-of-government chief information officer Ann Steward. The revelation of Ms Steward’s departure from both the Department of Finance’s Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) and the Australian Public Service comes […]
23 November, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski The Gillard government has kicked off a major industry and publicity push to sell the productivity dividends of teleworking to business, the public sector and the electorate as it seeks to drive home the tangible benefits of the National Broadband Network. Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Monday signed the Commonwealth up to […]
12 November, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski The Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) push to secure constitutional recognition has cleared an important political hurdle after the House of Representatives carried a motion last night to establish a 12 member Joint Select Committee to look into the proposal that would need to be put to a referendum. The bipartisan support […]
1 November, 2012
By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski Leaders in Coalition held states have condemned the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s decision to give police, fire and ambulance services just half of the spectrum allocation they lobbied the federal regulator for. New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria today all slammed the regulator’s decision, further inflaming the cross-jurisdictional […]
31 October, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski Responsibility for the federal Government’s key technology security policy document, the Cyber Whitepaper, has been shunted out of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to Senator Stephen Conroy’s Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy after Prime Minister Julia Gillard moved to substantially widen the scope of the late-running treatise. […]
29 October, 2012
Special Minister of State, Gary Gray, has vehemently rejected claims by the head the Business Council of Australia, Jennifer Westacott, that inexperienced and meddlesome ministerial staffers are eroding the quality of policy development and public administration. In an angry rebuke to Ms Westacott’s speech and proposed public service improvements last week, Mr Gray has accused […]
25 September, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has increased pressure the federal government to have local governments officially recognised in the Constitution after Prime Minister Julia Gillard postponed another looming referendum that would have acknowledged indigenous Australians. ALGA President, Felicity-ann Lewis has called on Canberra to establish a parliamentary committee […]
20 September, 2012
By Angela Dorizas Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has taken up local government’s campaign for additional funding under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). Ms Bligh met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard earlier this week to seek NDRRA funding for the repair and reconstruction of local government’s water, sewerage and transport infrastructure. Ms Bligh told Parliament […]
17 February, 2011
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been advised by local government in Victoria that her electorate of Lalor is one of the state’s most at-risk regions in the ‘kinder crisis’. The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has called on the Government to commit $600 million for Victorian kindergarten centres and ensure children have universal access to preschool before […]
12 October, 2010
By Angela Dorizas Councils and developers have welcomed the appointment of Simon Crean and Tony Burke to the two portfolios critical to future planning. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced over the weekend that Simon Crean would become Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, while the Minister for Sustainable Population Growth, Tony Burke, […]
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