John Menadue

The head of Australian Government Consulting, Andrew Nipe, gave a rare interview about how the fledgling unit was performing on Tuesday. It was an interesting insight into what is a new area for the Commonwealth. The public sector unit saving Canberra millions on private consultants https://lnkd.in/gRETa_cH A strategy of targeting “rare but repeatable” work across the public sector has helped the AGC displace almost $7 million of work that would have been done by external advisers The unit is also helping public servants become better at buying professional services. A May 2024 version of the unit's consulting buying guide is attached below. It details the sheer amount of work buyers need to do before hiring consultants. On this, Nipe said: "The amount of investment that the client puts in when working with us definitely pays through in multiples after we’ve gone...the big bit will be them understanding the advice and understanding why various decisions have been made in order to be able to implement it later." There are likely lessons in this for all purchaser of consulting services. In a similar vein: The lazy thing to do is hire a consultant: public service boss https://lnkd.in/g5v-k9SZ Public service managers should avoid the lazy option of hiring consultants, says senior public servant Blair Comley, but exceptions include so-called wicked problems. Also, AGC is hiring for appox. six roles...https://lnkd.in/g-ATEgBV

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At AusIMM conference to share an update on RMA reform and what this means for the mining and resources sector.

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🗞️ Great to see our 2023 4-day week research cited in the media again today, in this Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) article discussing how the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is calling for a move towards a four-day work week, with pay and conditions protected. The ACTU will use next week's Economic Reform Roundtable in Canberra to argue that reducing working hours is key to lifting living standards, becoming the latest group to throw its weight behind calls for a shorter working week, saying productivity gains should be shared with workers, rather than "boosting corporate profits and executive bonuses". It is calling for a move towards a four-day week where possible and sector-specific models elsewhere, with pay and conditions protected. In the ACTU's submission, president Michele O'Neil argued that "shorter working hours are good for both workers and employers" and "deliver improved productivity and allow working people to live happier, healthier and more balanced lives". She said sector-specific models for reducing working hours could include adding more rostered days off, increasing annual leave, and redesigning rosters to provide more predictability, security and work-life balance. ❓ Do you agree, are shorter working hours good for both workers and employers, and can they deliver improved productivity and allow working people to live happier, healthier and more balanced lives? As always, keen to hear your thoughts, opinions and experiences. 🙏 WorkFLEX-Australia #4dayweek #4dayworkweek #fourdayweek #fourdayworkweek #worklifebalance #futureofwork Author: Olivia Caisley Links to full article, and the Swinburne University of Technology report we prepared on the 4DWW in Australia, available in the comments section below 👇

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At the Vatican this week, Pope Leo XIV met with global newswire leaders, including representatives from Australian Associated Press, to champion press freedom and the vital role of news agencies in a healthy democracy. In his address, the Pope described journalism as a “public good that we all should protect,” praising the work of reporters and editors who provide trusted, verified information in an era of clickbait and misinformation. He cast a light specifically on the work of newswire reporters: “Journalists working for news agencies are called upon to be the first to arrive on the scene and report on breaking news. This is even more true in the era of continuous live communication and the increasingly pervasive digitisation of mass media.” Earlier in his papacy, Pope Leo also defended freedom of speech and the press, calling journalism essential to the pursuit of truth and democracy. Now in its 90th year, Australian Associated Press remains the nation’s only independent newswire, delivering public-interest reporting to hundreds of outlets, including many in regional areas. At the MINDS International conference in Rome, discussions focused on the future of journalism, global press freedom, and the challenges posed by AI-driven information ecosystems. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/46IqdMe

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A new Australian policy publication has launched, featuring an excellent podcast with people from leading think tanks: https://lnkd.in/gyRd9Ns2. The podcast—and my experience at the Economic Reform Roundtable—reinforced how influential think tanks have become in shaping Australian policy, while academic research plays a less visible role. Many academics produce highly relevant work, but fewer directly engage in policy debates. Think tanks add great value. But here’s the concern: empirical policy research is rarely absolute. Results are nuanced, full of caveats, and shaped by trade-offs. That’s precisely when academia matters most—when econometricians push empirical analysis to its limits, and theorists highlight mechanisms consistent with (and testable against) the evidence. Closer links between policymakers, think tanks, and academics would not only strengthen policy design, but also help theoretical researchers channel their agendas toward work that is rigorous, fundamental, and policy-relevant. This isn’t a new argument—but I worry the gap between academia and policy in Australia is widening. I’d be very happy to be proven wrong.

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