The Role of Departmental Secretaries: Personal Reflections on the Breadth of Responsibilities TodayAndrew Podger’s monograph, The Role of Departmental Secretaries, Personal reflections on the breadth of responsibilities today, is an important contribution to the broader public policy discourse in Australia. Andrew has been, at times, an unflinching commentator on issues of bureaucratic performance, accountability and responsiveness to government. Andrew’s reflections are drawn from his own experiences within the inner circle of Australian policy-making. In this monograph, he presents a highly nuanced portrait of the role of Commonwealth departmental secretaries. Although a ‘player’ himself at key moments in recent policy history, Andrew is a dispassionate and thoughtful observer of events. This is not merely a memoir: this work is rich in analysis and Andrew offers a number of ‘lessons learned’ to be heeded (or not) by the present and future generations of policy practitioners. |
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The Role of Departmental Secretaries: Personal Reflections on the Breadth of ... Andrew Podger No preview available - 2009 |
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accepted activities administration advice advising Aged agency heads agenda agreements allow appointments approach areas arrangements assessment Australian authority budget cabinet capacity central challenges changes Chapter close Commission committee communications concerned considerable continuing contribute critical decisions Department of PM&C departmental deputy direct discussion division effective ensure established example executive experience external Finance formal future groups housing identify important improved increased independent individual initiatives interest involved issues leadership matters meetings minister’s opportunities organisation Parliament Parliamentary particularly performance planning political portfolio position practice preferred present Prime Minister professional promote proposed public servants Public Service questions reflect reform relations relationship relevant responsibilities risk role secretaries Senate senior Service Commissioner social staff strategic style successful Table understanding usually Values Wooldridge