The Public Service is the administrative arm of the Executive Government, accountable to the relevant ministers and the Parliament.
The array of government departments and authorities is charged with the responsibility of advising the government of the day and implementing government and parliamentary decisions.
The Public Service is also known as the “bureaucracy”. In Britain, it is commonly called the “civil service”. It comprises the government departments, either federally or in the States, and also includes the members of Government Business Enterprises, Statutory Authorities and other Agencies.
The role of the Public Service is two-fold:
- to advise the government of the day on policy matters.
- to implement government decisions and parliamentary legislation.
The Public Service has traditionally operated under a system of permanent tenure designed to ensure its independence and impartiality. This has been broken down in recent years with senior public servants being placed on fixed-term contracts.
- A more detailed explanation of the Public Service, including statistics
- Federal Government Departments, Agencies and Authorities
- Listen to the theme from the classic TV series Yes, Minister.
Archived Posts
- Aug 11, 2016: Census Back Online; Contrite ABS Staff Apologise And Say They’re Back On Track
- Jul 19, 2016: Administrative Arrangements For The Second Turnbull Government
- Mar 08, 2016: Immigration Detention And Children: Statement From Immigration And Border Protection Department
- Feb 18, 2016: Administrative Arrangements Order – Amendments
- Sep 18, 2013: Abbott Government: Administrative Arrangements Order
- Dec 04, 2012: John Faulkner Calls For Better Governance Of Parliament, Public Service And The ALP
- Nov 12, 2008: Ken Henry’s Address To The National Press Club
- Dec 06, 2007: Rudd Government Strengthens Independence Of The Reserve Bank
- Dec 03, 2007: The Rudd Ministry: Who Does What
- Mar 14, 2007: Ken Henry Speech To Treasury Staff
- Jul 27, 2003: Young Workers Drawn To Queensland Public Service
- Sep 25, 2002: Simon Crean Queries John Anderson On Sacking Of Allan Hawke
- Aug 02, 2002: The ‘Truth Factory’: Robert Stewart Parker And The Public Service
- May 19, 2002: Supply And The Budget
- Feb 06, 2002: Abbott, Public Service Basher, Repents
- Jun 19, 2001: John Howard: The Australian Public Service
- Dec 08, 1999: New Secretary Appointed To Attorney-General’s Department
- Oct 24, 1999: New Head of Defence Department Appointed
- Nov 01, 1997: The Axemen Cometh
