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Andrew Podger

Andrew Podger

The Conversation

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Some senior bureaucrats earn more than $1 million a year. How did we get here?

Some senior bureaucrats earn more than $1 million a year. How did we get here?

The public service isn't often considered highly newsworthy, but when it comes to how much senior heads get paid, it ignites public discussion....

friday 10

Canberra Times

Andrew Podger

Some senior bureaucrats earn more than $1 million a year. How did we get here?

Some senior bureaucrats earn more than $1 million a year. How did we get here?

Many department heads earn more than the prime minister or treasurer. It’s a situation that’s now under review.

21.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Andrew Podger

Can the US public service survive the Trump era?

Public administrators in the United States are exploring how to reshape the civil service as a pillar of American democracy. Last year I reported in...

20.04.2026 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Robodebt report is still not the end of the road

The National Anti-Corruption Commission’s Robodebt report provides transparency and some accountability, but key findings and the lack of public...

13.03.2026 20

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Gordon de Brouwer: A disappointing legacy

02.02.2026 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Jobs for mates, by design: the government rejects its own integrity review

09.12.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

‘Stabilising’ relations with China while differences widen

05.11.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

What's constraining 'frank and fearless' advice?

20.10.2025 20

Canberra Times

Andrew Podger

What’s constraining ‘frank and fearless’ advice?

16.10.2025 20

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Four reasons Australia's superannuation system isn't the world's best

15.10.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

FOI Amendment Bill: Not what Faulkner or Allan Hawke wanted

18.09.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Essential APS reform - more to do

14.09.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Intergenerational equity is more important. But let’s not exaggerate the problem or be misled about the solutions

30.08.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

The super system is working backward for retirees

The absence of good advice and quality retirement products are causing too many older Australians to leave more of their savings unspent than they...

26.08.2025 10

Financial Review

Andrew Podger

How should Services Australia be constructed?

25.08.2025 20

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

More fundamental changes to the means test are needed than those intimated by DSS

16.08.2025 20

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

The public service under Albanese Mark 2: The good news and the bad

15.06.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Tax concessions for super do not need a major rethink

13.06.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Appointing a new secretary of PM&C

02.06.2025 30

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

The key lesson from the US: ‘Merit’ really is the most important public service value

30.04.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

How is the US civil service responding to the Trump administration?

25.04.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

If I were the minister assisting the PM on the public service …

22.04.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Figuring out China: It’s still complicated

17.03.2025 20

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

At last: A serious attempt to fix retirement phase of super

20.02.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger

Peter Dutton is promising to slash the public service. Voters won’t know how many jobs are lost until after the election

The public service is bracing for thousands of job losses if the Coalition is elected. In echoes of Trump policy, diversity and inclusion roles would...

04.02.2025 10

The Conversation

Andrew Podger

The APS has more work to do to address Robodebt revelations: Review of Mean Streak by Rick Morton

30.01.2025 10

Pearls and Irritations

Andrew Podger