Daniel Holmes

2 weeks ago | themandarin.com.au | Dan Holmes |Daniel Holmes

The Victorian State of the Service report shows that state government plans to reduce public service headcount are already leaving a mark on the public service. As of June 2024, the Victorian government employed more than 382,000 people. This is about 10% of Victoria’s labour force, and 4.1% larger than last year (12,450 FTE). Almost all of this growth is in “frontline” roles like healthcare (41%) or government schools (26%).

2 weeks ago | themandarin.com.au | Dan Holmes |Daniel Holmes

Submissions to a Victorian electoral matters inquiry have backed a major overhaul of the state’s upper house voting system. The electoral matters committee first proposed a new model of upper house voting in Victoria last October. It would see the state’s eight current Senate districts merged into a single state-wide upper house electorate, like in the NSW and federal systems. The number of Senators would remain 40.

2 weeks ago | themandarin.com.au | Dan Holmes |Daniel Holmes

Scyne Advisory is making a second round of layoffs in less than two years, and the government consulting crunch continues to bite the professional services industry. The Australian reports that about 10% of Scyne’s staff will lose their jobs in a tech-focused restructure. This follows a restructure in July that dropped 90 generalist consultants, including 10 directors, and added about 60 technology grads.

2 weeks ago | themandarin.com.au | Dan Holmes |Daniel Holmes

TV host and podcaster Abbie Chatfield didn’t need to publish electoral authorisations for friendly interviews with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Greens leader Adam Band, according to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). This is being reported as a massive coup for social media influencers against legacy media, “green lighting” their participation in elections without authorisation.

3 weeks ago | themandarin.com.au | Dan Holmes |Daniel Holmes

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has begun hiring for more than 150 jobs to support Australians taking part in the upcoming census test. The jobs available include field managers, field officers, mobile field representatives, and community field officers for the August 5 test. Census general manager Jenny Telford said the extra workforce was crucial to supporting participation in the census test. “Before each census, it’s important to test how we will run it,” she said.