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
- Census Back Online; Contrite ABS Staff Apologise And Say They’re Back On Track August 11, 2016
- Administrative Arrangements For The Second Turnbull Government July 19, 2016
- Immigration Detention And Children: Statement From Immigration And Border Protection Department March 8, 2016
- Administrative Arrangements Order – Amendments February 18, 2016
- Abbott Government: Administrative Arrangements Order September 18, 2013
- John Faulkner Calls For Better Governance Of Parliament, Public Service And The ALP December 4, 2012
- Ken Henry’s Address To The National Press Club November 12, 2008
- Rudd Government Strengthens Independence Of The Reserve Bank December 6, 2007
- The Rudd Ministry: Who Does What December 3, 2007
- Ken Henry Speech To Treasury Staff March 14, 2007
- Young Workers Drawn To Queensland Public Service July 27, 2003
- Simon Crean Queries John Anderson On Sacking Of Allan Hawke September 25, 2002
- The ‘Truth Factory’: Robert Stewart Parker And The Public Service August 2, 2002
- Supply And The Budget May 19, 2002
- Abbott, Public Service Basher, Repents February 6, 2002
- John Howard: The Australian Public Service June 19, 2001
- New Secretary Appointed To Attorney-General’s Department December 8, 1999
- New Head of Defence Department Appointed October 24, 1999
- The Axemen Cometh November 1, 1997
