DOGE and the US government

Echoes of DOGE in Australia

Dutton's proposed cuts

The 'Canberra' bubble

WFH policy

Politicking over the public sector

The public sector is under fire, but is it really as inefficient as DOGE and Dutton claim?

On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Fiona Macdonald, Acting Director at the Centre for Future Work, joins Glenn Connley to discuss Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, Peter Dutton’s plan to axe public service jobs, and why the private sector generally doesn’t deliver better public services.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 12 March 2025 and things may have changed since recording.

Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Fiona Macdonald, Acting Director, Centre for Future Work // @drfionamac

Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley

Show notes:

Briefing Paper: Restoring public sector capability through investment in public service employees by Lisa Heap, the Centre for Future Work (February 2025)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions 

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. 

The public sector is under fire, but is it really as inefficient as DOGE and Dutton claim?
On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Fiona Macdonald, Acting Director at the Centre for Future Work, joins Glenn Connley to discuss Elon Musk&rsquo;s Department of Government Efficiency, Peter Dutton&rsquo;s plan to axe public service jobs, and why the private sector generally doesn&rsquo;t deliver better public services.
This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 12 March 2025 and things may have changed since recording.
Order <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/Whats-the-Big-Idea-p697420081">What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia</a> now, via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Fiona Macdonald, Acting Director, Centre for Future Work // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/drfionamac.bsky.social">@drfionamac</a>
Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/glennconnley.bsky.social">@glennconnley</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/briefing-paper-restoring-public-sector-capability-through-investment-in-public-service-employees/">Briefing Paper: Restoring public sector capability through investment in public service employees</a> by Lisa Heap, the Centre for Future Work (February 2025)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions&nbsp;
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Follow The Money

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

The public sector is under fire, but is it really as inefficient as DOGE and Dutton claim?

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