In this study, customers/consumers, representatives of public sector provider organisations, and elected policy makers conveyed their perceptions of factors influencing essential functions and services delivery in selected Western Australian rural communities.

The key message of this report is that the public sector must become a leader and enabler of innovation in Australia, constituting as it does about 35% of GDP with a pervasive role in our economy and society.

The University of Melbourne in partnership with the Brotherhood of St Laurence is developing a research program that aims to critically examine ‘ prime ’ or ‘ lead ’ provider models of public service delivery. This discussion paper forms part of the initial exploration and provides an overview of the factors driving the adoption of...

Public Service Motivation (PSM) has attracted substantial academic interest. Thousands of questionnaires have been administered in many countries to examine and compare the motivation of public servants. After a brief introduction to PSM, this paper critically examines the management advice that has been offered by PSM advocates. The conclusion is that much of the advice...

Throughout the 2000s, agency running costs grew 23% in real terms (adjusted for inflation) despite an efficiency dividend of at least 1% throughout the decade. The dividend has also failed to curb costly changes in the size and makeup of the public service. Since the early 1990s the Australian Public Service (APS) has grown top...