Possibly the best example I've seen of techbros trying to solve the problems they've created in the most dystopian way possible
Dan Holmes
@dholmesnoise.bsky.social
Canberra based journalist with themandarin.com.au covering the Australian public sector. MEAA ACT President. Nerd. Context advocate. Recovering composer and music dude. dholmes@themandarin.com.au Apsanonymous@proton.me Signal: Apsanonymous.2600
One of my favourite genres of news article is middle class people finding whacky names for things so normalised among the poor, it would be weird to name them. www.reuters.com/markets/on-t...
How loud budgeting is helping Gen Z set financial boundaries
One 28-year-old explains how having open money conversations helps her avoid overspending and build financial stability.
reuters.com
ICAC NSW's "Unicorn" anti-corruption chief talks the differences between his approach, and the NACC commissioners'. #auspol #ausnews #nacc
What's motivating ICAC NSW's chief commissioner?
ICAC NSW chief commissioner John Hatzistergos told PJC NACC he wants to set the highest standard of integrity at the commission.
themandarin.com.au
I'd personally like to see more parliamentary inquiries run like this. Good contributions from everyone, including the government chair. Great focus on information gathering and perspective, little political point scoring. #nacc #auspol #ausnews
NACC committee dives into appointment of next commissioner
Less than a week into the recruitment of the next NACC commissioner, parliament has gathered evidence on the process and progress.
themandarin.com.au
A bit of a primer on the NACC appointments process for those watching PJC NACC today.
Who wants to be NACC commissioner?
ANALYSIS | The National Anti-Corruption Commission is advertising for a new commissioner and deputy commissioner. It's going to be a tough job.
themandarin.com.au
I've heard this said a few times in a few different ways. But deputy commissioner Kilgour has, in my view, said it in the most direct and articulate way. #auspol #ausnews #nacc
NACC can't make decisions on 'the vibe', says robodebt investigator
NACC deputy commissioner Kylie Kilgour says people fundamentally misunderstand the commission's investigation into robodebt.
themandarin.com.au
"Asked why the email was anonymous, she told ICAC she was trying to avoid appearing in the media."
ICAC NSW: 'Systemic corruption' at Parramatta Council motivated alleged 'retribution'
Parramatta Council's former CEO Gail Connolly has told ICAC NSW she is a whistleblower, not a corrupt actor.
themandarin.com.au
There's a lot tbd in the government's NDIS reform plans. As I understand it, they have a little over a year to bed these things down. Embedded video starts at the Department and NDIA's evidence. #auspol #ausnews #NDIS
APS uncertain about key elements of NDIS cuts
Health officials were unable to tell the NDIS inquiry about the effects of the proposed scheme changes on the states and regions, or whether participants need to plan years ahead.
themandarin.com.au
This was a heck of a hearing, and absolutely jam packed with information. If you've been partially paying attention to the ANU story, I highly recommend having a look at the uni's appearance at estimates last week for a fairly comprehensive rundown of what's happened to date. #auspol #ausnews #anu
ANU integrity probes near completion
Andrew Metcalfe has given the Senate an update on incomplete inquiries into ANU's governance and former leadership.
themandarin.com.au
Something that may fly under the radar in the gov's employment services changes is the greater role government is likely to play in direct provision. Its not the whole system, but the Secretary's evidence was he expects it to be more than half. #auspol #ausnews
APS to take bigger role in employment services
DEWR officials told Senate estimates they expect almost half of JobSeekers to be managed directly by the department.
themandarin.com.au
Is someone unhappy about UMELB's teaching of the categorical imperative?
Back on what I think is one of the most interesting rounds in the country - NSW ICAC. #auspol #ausnews www.themandarin.com.au/313061-guide...
A guide to ICAC’s investigation into Parramatta Council
NSW ICAC resumes public hearings into Operation Navarra on Monday. Here’s what you need to know.
themandarin.com.au
Folks paying close attention to the #NDIS might find interesting. NDIS integrity head John Dardo told the Senate last week there "isn’t a statistically valid way to calculate" fraud in the NDIS.
Taskforce raids alleged NDIS fraud syndicate
The Fraud Fusion Taskforce is investigating what it believes is a multi-million dollar NDIS fraud syndicate in Queensland.
themandarin.com.au
Something you might have missed - today is ATEC's first full day of operations. I spoke to Barney Glover this morning about the commission's work on whole-of-system university reform. Its a piece of unambiguously good news, imo. #ausnews #auspol
Tertiary education steward opens for business
ATEC acting chief commissioner Barney Glover spoke to The Mandarin on the commission's first official day of operations.
themandarin.com.au
Trump's war on waste fraud and abuse does not appear to be going very well. I compared US's total "Improper spending" in 2025 to estimated Australian government losses to fraud ... and it's kind of a lot.
US government loses $186 billion to 'improper spending'
The US Government Accountability Office said improper government spending grew by $24 billion last year.
themandarin.com.au
Trump's war on waste fraud and abuse does not appear to be going very well. I compared US's total "Improper spending" in 2025 to estimated Australian government losses to fraud ... and it's kind of a lot. #auspol #ausnews
US government loses $186 billion to 'improper spending'
The US Government Accountability Office said improper government spending grew by $24 billion last year.
themandarin.com.au
Alternate headline: Ken Henry channels Shia LaBeouf in Senate inquiry. #ausnews #auspol
'Just do it': Former treasury secretary calls for effective gas tax
A 'liberated' Ken Henry has told a new Senate select committee to 'stop the crap' and raise a tax on the gas industry.
themandarin.com.au
I spent two days listening to the @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social and the ASPC contesting the release of more of Lynelle Briggs' investigation into former secretary Mike Pezzullo. Here's what I heard. #auspol #ausnews
APSC battles to bury remainder of Pezzullo investigation
The Australian Public Service Commission is arguing that disclosures about a once-in-a-generation code of conduct investigation would harm future inquiries.
themandarin.com.au
$3.3 million always seemed like a lot of money for running Auspost to me. Turns out, by international standards, it is. #auspol #ausnews
Australian public sector CEOs now world's highest-paid
Australian public sector bosses are now the highest paid in the world, following a US executive order cutting utility boss's pay.
themandarin.com.au
Another state public service pay deal over the line, this time in Tasmania. #auspol #ausnews
Tasmanian public servants reach pay deal with government
CPSU Tasmania members have voted up a new enterprise agreement, after almost a year of bargaining with the state government.
themandarin.com.au
What we know -- thanks to FOI -- about Mike Pezzullo misconduct at Home Affairs, from @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social Contempt for democracy: "Parliamentary route is now contaminated with few exceptions. We need to build a meritocracy by stealth and run government from the bureaucracy."
This is another one of those stories where a lot of the mystery disappears when you just read budget paper 4. Admittedly, not all. This is also your first yearly reminder ASL is not FTE, or headcount. It's meant very little since the cap was removed in 2022. #ausnews #auspol
Central agencies offer redundancies across APS
DCCEEW is the latest federal agency to confirm redundancies ahead of the May budget.
themandarin.com.au
Every report on local transport infrastructure says virtually the same thing, just in different degrees. Here's the latest from the ANAO. #auspol #ausnews
Auditor-general finds familiar problems in local roads fund
The government isn't demonstrating good value for money from the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, says Caralee McLiesh.
themandarin.com.au
This is the third public service strike I've covered in six months. APS bargaining is slated to start this year. If I were the federal government, I'd be taking note. #auspol #ausnews
Tasmania's public servants walk off the job
CPSU Tasmania members are taking protected industrial action amid combative pay negotiations with the state government.
themandarin.com.au
(1/2) There's a question I ask every time I do stories about public sector bargaining -- How does the government explain or justify giving the people who gather and analyse their economic data real wage cuts in an agreement? #auspol #ausnews
Battleground emerges between ACT public servants, government
Union members have rejected an offer that would have put them further behind their APS counterparts.
themandarin.com.au
Posting my regular apology to colleagues, sources, and friends for dropping off the radar. It's not you, it's my lack of social skills and time.
Could not bring myself to write a headline that in any way suggests that 20 years is any way "fast".
Tasmania to make right to information a little less slow
Tasmanian cabinet documents could be released after 20 years under RTI, down from the current 25. In other states, it's 30 days.
themandarin.com.au