I have always lived by the motto "all generalizations are false"

There is no point in griping about the Public Service as if it were one entity.

While it is entirely possible for the general public to place a value on, say, the police, it is far less easy to understand the contribution of a middle-ranking manager in, for example, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

So it might help the discussion to be a little more specific.

Perhaps we can make a start with "what is the benefit to the people of Australia of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, which will cost the taxpayer $183,171,000 in the financial year 2010-11?"

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/accountability/budget/2010-11/pbs/pbs_2010-11.pdf

This, I would suggest, is the kind of question that the Spanish government is asking itself.

Not whether garbos have more value than sports stars.

(Incidentally, the next part of my motto says "Including this one.")

Pericles... I think you meant to write 'all generalisations are generally wrong'.

Quite so, I only use the mindless comparisons to highlight the mindless post though.

Funny you mention the Rudd 'sink tank'.

Are OLO punters aware that all Commonwealth FOI inquiries have been moved from the AGs office, to Rudd's office?

Very 'Stalinist' methinks.

At least with FOI in the AGs area there was an illusion of 'fairness' about being able to access information.

But when Rudd drags it into his closed and darkened rooms one knows very well that this is yet another expression of his constipated inability to delegate anything.

I suggested individual needs to read about Mussolini.... well, Rudd is not dissimilar in how he wants to control every last detail.

If Abbott were to win, I'd cry, but if Rudd were to lose, I'll be laughing my head off at his early demise, and who then would be 'qualified' to run the ALP?

Hardly the Ginger Ninja, having been so closely associated with every last Rudd plan... that would be like electing Julie Bishop from deputy to leader.

The Blue Cross,
You still "don't get it" ! What's with the slave army nonsense ? Freezing pays is utterly different to cutting pay. Placing an upper & lower limit on public funded positions has nothing to do with cutting.
It's all to do with nation building & stronger society. The path we're on presently is leading to disaster in every aspect. There's living proof that people need to be pulled into line. Just as much as leaders need to be pulled into line. We constantly hear of not enough funding, well, a wage freeze/limit would free up literally billions help build a better society. Just look at the recent school building fiasco come blatant misappropriation. Buildings for 4 times the cost of normal. That Bluey is why we need better people in power than we have presently. We have those people looking over the fence & it's only due to people like you that stop them from getting into the yard. so far as the Public Service goes I can only say that instead of watchdogs we got scrapyard mongrels.

Dearie me, individual... a bit of an uncontrolled rant here?

"It's all to do with nation building & stronger society."

Aha, 'nation building' is it? You'd have to define precisely what you mean by 'nation' first.

Australia is indeed a 'nation-state' but it is not a 'nation'. It is composed of many 'nations', some recognised, however resentfully, some not.

When politicians speak of 'the national interest', they know not what they talk about.

And people hearing the phrase, maybe even you, never stop to consider, for one moment, what it means either.

"There's living proof that people need to be pulled into line"...yes mein Fuhrer, ve begin zu shooting at dawn.

"Just as much as leaders need to be pulled into line"... I am glad we agree that Abbott and Rudd are dangerous fools, but they are both responding to the even more dangerous fools who vote for them and approve their actions.

".. a wage freeze/limit would free up literally billions help build a better society"... hmm, my father fought a war against people who wanted to build 'a better society'. Maybe you are one of those who believe the ideal world is just around the next hairpin bend, after the chicane and humpback bridge?

"Just look at the recent school building fiasco come blatant misappropriation. Buildings for 4 times the cost of normal"... agreed, and the insulation and green loans fiascos, along with the NSCP scam, and much else taxpayers shell out for 'in the national interest'.

"That Bluey is why we need better people in power than we have presently"... well, we all agree with that, from all our disparate perspectives, as always, but therein lies the real dilemma.

There is no simple answer, and no single correct one at all, which probably means there is no hope of building a 'better society' because 'better' to me is anathema to you.

So we need to try to work through issues with some graeter dignity, and purpose than knee jerk actions, be they Rudd's wasteful 'saving the nation' or Abbott's 'burning the village to save the village' approach.

Pericles is generally right about generalisations.

individual
You obviously have your own story to tell. Why don't you outline your experience, rather than use a broad brush to rubbish the PS. What particular areas of public service do you think need to be cut or wages reduced?

TBC

My understanding is FOI enquiries (in totality) have not been moved to PM&C only the policy aspects which also covers reforms and legislation regarding access. One positive is that the Rudd government eradicated Conclusive Certificates. Previously public servants could deny access to information without providing a reason. Now they cannot. FOI requests are still handled by the relevant departments according to portofio responsibility.

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/consultation/foi_reform/index.cfm

Whoops...that should have read portfolio responsibility.