The parasite state of consultants
and update on next instalment of World Crisis series
Dear friends, I have had published today an article in the Pearls and Irritations online public policy journal on the state of the public service, prompted by the recent scandal of the overuse of consulting firms, including Price Waterhouse Coopers.
The Australian Senate Committee has published the report of the inquiry into this matter, PwC: a calculated breach of trust.
My full article can be read here.
I would love to know your thoughts on whether we need a national conversation or inquiry into the public service and the state of democarcy in Australia today. Let me know in a comment below.
The article addresses some of the themes of political dsorder that I had intended to post on today in the next instalment of my series on World Crisis or Polycrisis.
With events in Russia over the weekend, and promotion of this article to do, I will beg an extension of one week from my good paid subscribers for this article. I promise, it is on the way and will be delivered to your inbox next week.
Thanks for your support and interest. Do consider upgrading your subscription to a paid subscription if you are interested in my fuller thoughts on political disorder, including more detail on what I mean by parasite states, the virtual reality state and post-democratic societies.
We need to rebuild the institutions of the public service and restore the culture of virtuous government. The mercenary elites of our parasite states need to be shaken from the magic carpet of government.
Hello Jeff
I would be the last to be critical of clumsy typing.
Several examples of major problems spring to mind.
1. Secrecy in Government circles. Most politicians and some senior APS officials believe secrecy and dare I say it "commercial in confidence" are perfectly legitimate ways to run Government and bureaucracies.
They conveniently forget they are there to serve the long suffering public. The "secret" information belongs to us. Too often reports and inquiries are suppressed and hidden from view. Pathetic.
2. Quality of politicians. Too often candidates progress from school/University, active in party politics, move on to a staffer position and then vie for pre-selection. With this career trajectory they will be better than useless. My sense is there should be the following criteria to be met before standing for pre-selection. Some tertiary qualification - plumber or PhD in astro-physics. Five years work experience in any field except politics. At least one year working and living overseas. With these criteria they will be about 30yo when entering politics and not wet and naive behind the ears. On exiting Parliament ex-members should be prohibited from working in any area associated with any portfolio which they have held. This is not harsh. If they are any good they can get a good position anywhere. Might help sort out the lobby contingent.
3. Related to secrecy. Ministers' diaries should be open book. Who are they talking to.
4. Again related to secrecy. The LNP agreement is confidential. Not good enough.
5. The sooner the national ICAC gets cracking the better. Otherwise as Paul Keating opined we will be entrenched as a "Banana Republic".
I could go on but that is enough for now.
Erik
17 Yaluma Drive
Port Macquarie 2444
0417 337 995
You PWc article was spot on. Keep up the good work.
It occurred to me that Australia already spends billions employing some of the world's leading experts in almost every field: our academics.
Ministers should offer all consulting contracts to Australian universities first and/or hire them to oversee outside consultants.
As to democracy, we're not one. We just vote for leaders.
Mongol warriors rode for thousands of miles to vote for their leaders but none, to my knowledge, ever imagined that he lived in a democracy.
Nor should we.