Episodes

  • TWT Ask Us Anything! Part 2 - culture and integrity agencies
    Oct 14 2024

    Another great round of questions, thanks!

    Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

    Those of us in the employ of the State Government speak in a strictly personal capacity, consistent with the Public Sector Code of Ethics that permits public servants to promote an outcome in relation to an issue of public interest - in this case, the betterment of the public service.

    Nothing we say should be taken as representing the views of the Government or our employers.

    While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

    If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.

    Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

    Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.

    'Til next time!

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    31 mins
  • TWT Ask Us Anything! Part 1 - trust in government, and how we organise ourselves
    Sep 30 2024

    Thanks for the questions folks!

    Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

    Those of us in the employ of the State Government speak in a strictly personal capacity, consistent with the Public Sector Code of Ethics that permits public servants to promote an outcome in relation to an issue of public interest - in this case, the betterment of the public service.

    Nothing we say should be taken as representing the views of the Government or our employers.

    While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

    If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.

    Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

    Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.

    'Til next time!

    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Finally, the APSC has published its findings about Robodebt: what did they find, and where to from here?
    Sep 15 2024

    The Australian Public Service Commission has released the findings of its Centralised Code of Conduct Inquiry into Robodebt.

    Outro grab from The West Wing, Season 3, Episode 10.

    Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

    Those of us in the employ of the State Government speak in a strictly personal capacity, consistent with the Public Sector Code of Ethics that permits public servants to promote an outcome in relation to an issue of public interest - in this case, the betterment of the public service.

    Nothing we say should be taken as representing the views of the Government or our employers.

    While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

    If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.

    Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

    Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.

    'Til next time!

    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • Mr Bates v Post Office part 6 - information dead ends and accountability sinks
    Aug 12 2024

    In this episode, we look at why Post Office kept prosecuting Sub Post Masters through the lens of Dan Davies' analysis in his new book The Unaccountability Machine.

    Opening grab from Mr Beer KC (Counsel Assisting) and Alisdair Cameron, CFO and former interim CE of Post Office Ltd.

    Subsequent grab from Mr Blake KC (Counsel Assisting) and Graham Brander, former Post Office Investigator.

    Subsequent grab from Mr Beer KC and Anne Chambers, former Fujitsu Engineer Third Line Support.

    Final grab from Mr Blake KC and Paul Inwood, former Post Office Limited Contract Manager.

    For thorough and detailed reporting of the Post Office Scandal, start with the reporting of Nick Wallis, including his BBC podcast, the Great Post Office Trial.

    Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

    Those of us in the employ of the State Government speak in a strictly personal capacity, consistent with the Public Sector Code of Ethics that permits public servants to promote an outcome in relation to an issue of public interest - in this case, the betterment of the public service.

    Nothing we say should be taken as representing the views of the Government or our employers.

    While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

    If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.

    Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

    Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.

    'Til next time!

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Mr Bates v Post Office part 5 - prosecuting the innocent
    Jul 29 2024

    A massive power imbalance, everyone doing the narrowest version of their jobs, and an overriding culture that assumed postmasters were thieves. These are just some of the ways Post Office ended up prosecuting postmasters for shortfalls that existed only on the computer.

    Opening grab from Mr Beer KC (Counsel Assisting) and Rob Wilson, former Head of the Royal Mail Group Criminal Law Team.

    Subsequent grab from Mr Beer KC and Helen Rose, former Post Office / Royal Mail Group Auditor.

    Final grab from Andrew Wise, former Advisor in the Network Business Support Centre, Post Office.

    For thorough and detailed reporting of the Post Office Scandal, start with the reporting of Nick Wallis, including his BBC podcast, the Great Post Office Trial.

    Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

    Those of us in the employ of the State Government speak in a strictly personal capacity, consistent with the Public Sector Code of Ethics that permits public servants to promote an outcome in relation to an issue of public interest - in this case, the betterment of the public service.

    Nothing we say should be taken as representing the views of the Government or our employers.

    While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

    If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.

    Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

    Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.

    'Til next time!

    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • The Hon John Hill, on being a Minister
    Jul 8 2024
    In this episode, former state Minister for Health and the Arts (among others) the Hon John Hill, shares his insights into what Ministers want - and what they need - from the public service.

    You can buy his book ‘On being a Minister’ here - and if you’re brave, share with your Minister!

    Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

    Those of us in the employ of the State Government speak in a strictly personal capacity, consistent with the Public Sector Code of Ethics that permits public servants to promote an outcome in relation to an issue of public interest - in this case, the betterment of the public service.

    Nothing we say should be taken as representing the views of the Government or our employers.

    While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

    If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.

    Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

    Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.

    'Til next time!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Andrew Podger AO: Is Thodey public sector reform on Steroids or Valium?
    Jun 24 2024
    In this second interview with former Commonwealth Secretary and Australian Public Service Commissioner Andrew Podger AO, Danielle gets to chat about

    • The pros and cons of bringing all service delivery together in a single agency
    • The valuing of operational expertise v policy leadership
    • The role of portfolio budget practices in driving Robodebt
    • Cultures of challenge and diversity of thought
    • The future of public service reform.
    References in the episode

    • 2019 Thodey Review of Australian Public Service
    • 1976 Coombs Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration

    Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

    Those of us in the employ of the State Government speak in a strictly personal capacity, consistent with the Public Sector Code of Ethics that permits public servants to promote an outcome in relation to an issue of public interest - in this case, the betterment of the public service.

    Nothing we say should be taken as representing the views of the Government or our employers.

    While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

    If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.

    Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

    Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.

    'Til next time!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Andrew Podger AO: the induction, tenure and bravery of Secretaries
    Jun 10 2024
    With a decade as a Commonwealth Secretary, and two more as Australian Public Service Commissioner, it is no surprise Robodebt Royal Commissioner Holmes turned to Andrew Podger AO for expert advice on the operation of the public service.

    In this episode, Danielle talks to Andrew about the impact that granting tenure could have on the quality of advice, the increasing use of labour hire in the public service, and the importance of senior executives having read the legislation.

    Also referenced in the conversation:

    • The ‘Barilaro Report’: NSW DPC Investigation into the Appointment of Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas
    • Blair Comley, Cth Secretary Health and Ageing, speech to IPAA (14 March 2024)
    Intro grab features Counsel Assisting Justin Greggery, Ms Kathryn Campbell AO CSC, and Commission Holmes, 11 November 2022.

    Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

    Those of us in the employ of the State Government speak in a strictly personal capacity, consistent with the Public Sector Code of Ethics that permits public servants to promote an outcome in relation to an issue of public interest - in this case, the betterment of the public service.

    Nothing we say should be taken as representing the views of the Government or our employers.

    While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

    If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.

    Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

    Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.

    'Til next time!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr