The Westminster Tradition

• Inside the public service's ‘Human Handbrake’: why reform stalls and how to fix it

  Demos has released a fascinating paper, The Human Handbrake, on the five human habits that stall public sector reform. In this episode we pick through each of them - fear, heroics, tribes, tidiness, and tempo - and test practical fixes from risk stratification to outcome-focused equity. Topics covered include:fear-driven risk culture and how to stratify risksafe-to-fail spaces vs non-negotiable protectionspolicy hero incentives vs long-term stewardshiprecruitment, merit, and better referencestribes and bridges between centre and frontlineproximity, exchanges, and communities of practicesimplicity bias vs equity and local textureoutcome measurement, real-time data, and storytellingpolitical tempo, accountability, and transparent milestonesculture as accelerator, not brake.We covered a wild variety of content in this episode. Here's a smattering:Demos The Human HandbrakeWhat do blueberries have to do with my job?The Trust EquationCONTAINED 30 minutes. 3 rooms. One truth about youth justice.e61 research on the shift in social spend “Dependency should be debated”The newspaper wall in the Kingsman moviesThis podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

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• “It’s just a minor restructure” said no calendar ever

  In our second change management episode, Danielle pulls apart the myth of the “minor” restructure and lay out a practical way to change without breaking the work. From function mapping and ministerial comms to union engagement and the “fourth trimester”, we consider how to make change stick with clarity and care.why six to nine months is realistic for restructuresfunction before form and mapping real workaligning vision to delivery using bottom‑up designministers and boards as informed stakeholders, not decidersthe centralise versus localise accordion and trade‑offsmiddle managers as the glue of changenaming unknowns, iteration, and review cyclesworking with unionsplumbing and HR sequencing that stalls programsafter ‘go‑live’ habits, SOPs, and consistent standardswhat’s up for grabs versus non‑negotiable boundarieslogistics people actually care about: seats, commutes, WFH.This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

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• Who Really Moved My Cheese? Tales from the change management trenches

  Danielle takes us on a romp through change management, starting, as with all good contrarians, with a challenge to the idea of ‘change management’ itself. Some of the ideas covered:Change is happening all the time in government, not just during formal "change management" periodsMost people dislike uncertainty rather than change itselfMission and values-driven staff struggle most with macro changes that shift agency directionMedium-level changes (like new systems) are often underestimated and underfundedThe "don't be a dickhead rule" isn't enough—change management is genuinely difficultLeaders should listen carefully to "change resistors" who may be flagging legitimate risksAdministrative foundations must be solid before change begins (position descriptions, contracts, etc.)Different professional groups (lawyers, scientists, policy officers) respond differently to changeMaintaining a stable core while being honest about what's changing helps navigate transitions.Referenced in this episode:If Books Could Kill pod on Who Moved My Cheese?This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

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• Regulator/policy cage fight: ANZSOG National Regulators Community of Practice Conference 2025

  Our first live show at the wildly successful ANZSOG NRCOP Conference in Brisbane August 2025.The conversation tackles head-on the structural disconnections between our regulatory and policy systems, particularly in federated models like early childhood education. How do we reconcile a Commonwealth pouring billions into subsidies while state-based quality regulators remain chronically underfunded? What happens when funding accessibility doesn't come with proportionate strengthening of quality oversight?Most revealing is the discussion about regulatory independence versus political interference. While statutory independence is crucial for regulatory integrity, our panelists acknowledge the reality that regulators remain part of government—subject to ministerial directions, government resourcing decisions, and public sector constraints.This creates a challenging balance that every regulator must navigate daily.Alison leaves with the best advice for all emerging regulators - find your people, people who you can trust and you can talk with and test your thinking.Referenced in this episode:James Shipton The Regulatory State: Faults, Flaws and False AssumptionsNRCoP 2025 National Conference Regulation 2025 to 2050: Disruption, Change and Continuity This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

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• The Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP: Lessons from a Veteran Minister

  What makes someone qualified to be a minister? In this candid conversation with Tom Koutsantonis, South Australia's longest-serving current parliamentarian, Danielle explores the fascinating intersection where political leadership meets public administration.Drawing on his remarkable career spanning multiple portfolios including Treasury, Energy, and Transport, Koutsantonis takes us behind the curtain of ministerial decision-making.He dispels the myth that ministers need specialised expertise in their portfolio areas, arguing instead that their authority comes from democratic mandate and demonstrated competence rather than academic credentials.The discussion offers a masterclass in policy implementation, particularly during times of crisis.Koutsantonis shares the stark reality of South Australia's 2016 energy blackout, where conventional thinking had to be abandoned for bold action. "It was Jay and I just saying 'I don't care what you think,'" he recalls of overriding resistant public servants to implement transformative energy solutions. This candid account reveals how decisive leadership can break through entrenched bureaucratic thinking when circumstances demand it.Public servants will find particular value in Koutsantonis's insights on ministerial briefings. Despite modern trends toward abbreviated formats, he staunchly defends detailed written briefings: "If ministers aren't reading past the first three lines, it's to their detriment." His perspective offers reassurance that thorough policy work remains essential to good governance.This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at [email protected] to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 'Til next time!

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