My Public Sector – Our lips are sealed

Everyone is talking about Robodebt.

Well, we’re all talking about the Royal Commission into the Robodebt scheme. The Commission’s final report is what people everywhere are discussing right now.

To be more precise – it is the sealed section that has tongues wagging and speculation rising.

Sealed sections, of anything, are designed to get people talking.

Royal Commissioner Catherine Holmes might have had sound reason for keeping sealed a section of her report that names those she thinks should be prosecuted, but she did so with the full knowledge that its contents would be all people cared about.

The sealed section has ensured the Royal Commission stays front and centre of political discussion for some time yet.

This edition of My Public Sector wraps together all our Robodebt coverage from the past week, spanning the days directly before the final report’s release right up to today with all its breaking news, analysis and commentary.

There are compelling arguments here, including a call to get that section unsealed sooner rather than later.

Our new columnist Deb Nesbitt provides a great account of PwC’s role in the whole sorry Robodebt saga.

We also discuss the new business to rise from the ashes of PwC’s tarnished government consulting arm.

Included here too are reports on the wider spend on external consultants to government, changes to APS recruiting rules, Brendan Murphy’s valedictory and Linda Burney’s plea for the Voice.

The PM has this week confirmed the news our defence writer Andrew McLaughlin broke in March – that Germany is going to buy some Australian-made armoured vehicles.

And don’t forget to have a listen to The Hoot podcast from Genevieve Jacobs and Ross Solly, who get serious talking about PwC, Canberra Liberals and Calvary hospital … before they shake it off and get even more serious talking about Taylor Swift.

Plus lots more.

Thanks for reading.