Labor party pledges to abolish APS staffing cap

Labor has vowed to abolish the APS staffing cap and cut spending on consultants and contractors if elected.

28 April, 2022

New warning that more than 12,000 public service jobs will go

By Julian Bajkowski The union representing Commonwealth public servants has hit out at the release of selected costings by the Liberal Party for the election, warning that Coalition estimates of savings totalling $5.2 billion by culling 12,000 government jobs no longer add up. The Community and Public Sector Union has called on Opposition Leader Tony […]

29 August, 2013

CPSU suspends campaign support for Rudd

By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley Anger within the Commonwealth public service over fresh funding cuts by the Rudd government has boiled over after the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) announced it had “voted to extend the suspension of all CPSU election campaigning in protest at Government plans to cut $1.8 billion from federal […]

6 August, 2013

Fear of mass public service sackings grips Canberra campaign

By Julian Bajkowski Canberra may well be celebrating its Centenary this year, but locals are weighing the prospect of the public service designer city being partly depopulated. As the election looms, the threat of bulk federal redundancies under a Coalition government has again increased in value as prime political currency among voters there. Senator for […]

30 July, 2013

City of Ryde Mayor, councillors probed over corruption allegations

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski The mayor of Sydney’s City of Ryde, Ivan Petch, and other five councillors are facing a public inquiry by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) as part of investigations into allegations of a raft of dodgy and improper activities. A statement issued by the ICAC on […]

16 July, 2013

Gillard green lights local government referendum as recriminations fly

By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley Prime Minister Julia Gillard has finally confirmed that the federal government intends hold a September 14 referendum that if successful would allow the financial recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution, but there are signs of growing tensions and signs of fracturing support for the poll within the […]

9 May, 2013

Ghettos the ghost of past governments

By Professor Patrick Troy* In the darkest depths of World War II, the Commonwealth chose to review the social security system in Australia. It was a remarkable commitment, especially when the outcome of the war was unknown, to review the effects of the ravages of the Great Depression. Following the failure of the speculative developments […]

3 January, 2013

Policy wasteland wafts from Perth dump

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski The president of the Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA), Troy Pickard, tipped a bucket on both the State Government and Opposition over environmentally harmful waste management policies being touted in vote grabs ahead of the March election. The accusations from the peak body revolve around proposals from both […]

18 December, 2012

NSW corruption probe to grill ex-Premiers

By Paul Hemsley with Julian Bajkowski Former New South Wales Premiers Morris Iemma and Nathan Rees will front the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) today as witnesses as part of an investigation into former Minister for Primary Industries and Minister for Mineral Resources Ian McDonald’s decisions surrounding approval for a coal mine  – and whether […]

13 November, 2012

ALGA intensifies push for recognition in Constitution

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