The Australia Institute has prepared this submission for the Federal Senate inquiry examining the conflict of interest risks associated with government contracts with consultants, the need for better oversight, and the case for professional standards in the consulting sector.

This report draws on evidence from several audit reports, and also from procurement practitioners, as well as the context of similar findings over recent years, to make 19 recommendations both to the audited entities and to the Australian Department of Finance as the 'steward' of the procurement framework.

This paper provides a comprehensive, ready-to-use performance measurement framework for the consistent assessment of procurement processes. The framework should also support data-based policy and decision-making in public procurement.

National governments have created (artificial intelligence) AI-related strategies, frameworks and guidelines on the ethical use of AI. Yet while people have faith in AI to produce good and reliable outcomes, they have questions about the safety and security of AI systems. This report, which distills perspectives from an expert roundtable of leaders in Australia, discusses...

Much has already been written about artificial intelligence (AI) - what it is and is not, its risks and opportunities and key considerations that must be made as the technology is developed and deployed. This paper aims to go a layer deeper, to diagnose and examine problems with AI purchasing in government.