The formation and maintenance of social partnerships depends on five key principles relating to: purposes and goals; relations with partners; capacity for partnership work; governance and leadership; and trust and trustworthiness. Using four case studies, this report assesses how these principles and practices can be used to develop strong social partnerships.

The issue of public service responsiveness to ministers has been described as a ‘hardy perennial’ of public service ethics. Too much responsiveness implies a public service that has become compliant to the point of subordinating its professional integrity to the political needs of ministers. Too little, implies a public service that ignores its duty to...

The mining industry is of enormous economic importance and is the lifeblood of many communities in regional Australia. Sadly, in a small but significant number of cases, it is also the source of tragedy. While the Queensland mining industry may, statistically, be one of the safest in the world, mine and ancillary workers still die...

Australia’s education services exports have continued to grow in importance this decade. Since 1982, education services exports have grown at an average annual rate of around 14 per cent in volume terms, with their share in the value of total exports increasing from less than 1 per cent to almost 6 per cent in 2007...

The NES are a key element of the Rudd government's new workplace relations system and will come into effect on 1 January 2010. They will apply to all employees in the Federal system regardless of industry, occupation or income. They cover maximum weekly hours of work; requests for flexible working arrangements; parental leave and related...