The Australian Government aims to save $3 billion by replacing external consultants with the newly established Australian Government Consulting (AGC). Funded with $10.9M over two years, AGC promises strategic advice and organisational transformation from within the public service. While nearly 1,000 applications show strong interest, scepticism remains about whether AGC can deliver the anticipated savings and effectiveness. Having worked both sides of the fence, I worry that the lack of consistency in changing government policy continues to erode critical capabilities at a time when unity is needed. #defenceindustry #defence #aukus
Garth Adam
7mo
Just where are they going to get the bodies to fill these positions? Ex-PwC partners looking for a gig?
Chris Skinner
7mo
All these comments are about the source of commentary and the costs thereof rather than the quality of the advice and whether it is heeded. Frankly if PwC has the best advice available based on careful research and analysis then that's fine, as long as it is properly considered for implementation. Advice provided at great expense only to provide a response to a parliamentary question is not value for money. At the end of the day the real issue is preparedness to take decisions based on whatever advice has been considered, and above all to avoid deferring decisions to further study.
Alan Jones
7mo
Those numbers are as believable as the independence of the advice this organisation would provide.
Steve Gumley when he was leading the Defence Materiel Organisation wanted to break away from the APS pay scales and reward people for their skills, not their title/rank.
Garry Eilola
7mo
I completely agree that the various consulting companies who make so much from us poor taxpayers are akin to a pack of sharks circling a never-ending whale carcass. But..... For me there's a huge red flag with this announcement. Isn't part of the idea of using external parties, to provide fresh perspective and ideas? Something the ever-growing bureaucracy desperately needs and is sadly lacking. This smacks of rearranging the deckchairs. Again. Or adding a new chair to the game of musical chairs. Again. Please tell me I'm missing something here....
Richard Anderson
7mo
"We need to grasp the challenge that is in front of us today, not in three or five years’ time.” Well said, Rebecca.
Matt Wilson
7mo
They are only doing minor projects in a ‘seagull’ type fashion and apparently avoiding defence work altogether. $12 mill for 2 years? Give it to a competent SME and do it for half the price. Nothing about this adds up other than an attempt to nationalise consulting.
Drew Horsell
7mo
Saving $3bn by spending only $10.9m - sounds like a bargain Graeme! Did the AGC do these figures themselves? 🤐
Principal Consultant @ Kinexus Australia
7moJust once I’d like to see a bipartisan approach to defence acquisition and sustainment.