Mike Kaiser, former DG of Department of Premier and Cabinet (Qld)
Dec 30, 2024
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Mike Kaiser, the former Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Queensland, shares insights from his extensive career in public service. He discusses the complex relationship between political offices and public servants, emphasizing the need for better communication. Kaiser delves into the ethical dilemmas of the RoboDebt scheme and the importance of accountability. He critiques public sector inefficiencies and highlights the significance of effective leadership. The conversation also addresses necessary reforms in leadership competencies to enhance public service delivery.
Mike Kaiser emphasizes the vital role of healthy skepticism in public service, encouraging public servants to challenge assumptions for better outcomes.
Kaiser advocates for a 'fail gallantly' philosophy that promotes taking calculated risks and learning from mistakes to enhance public service effectiveness.
Deep dives
Navigating Public Service and Private Sector Dynamics
The podcast delves into the interplay between public service, politics, and the private sector, showcasing the various perspectives of Mike Kaiser, who has experienced roles in all three domains. Having worked as a party official, a member of Parliament, and in multiple public sector leadership positions, Kaiser highlights the necessity of understanding these interfaces in order to operate effectively within the public service. He emphasizes that professionals from diverse fields, such as law, engineering, or teaching, bring unique thought processes to their work, which must be harnessed to enhance public service effectiveness. This blend of experiences underscores the importance of recognizing and integrating different professional training to foster a robust public service environment that adapts to complex challenges.
The Role of Healthy Skepticism in Public Service
Kaiser discusses the critical role of healthy skepticism in public service decision-making, advocating for public servants to maintain an inquisitive mindset in their work. Rather than defaulting to blind acceptance of directives, public servants should strive to challenge assumptions, which can lead to more effective outcomes and ultimately serve the public interest. He acknowledges the distinction between skepticism—which drives thorough analysis and informed recommendations—and cynicism, which can hinder progress. By fostering a culture of healthy skepticism, public servants can better navigate the often ambiguous political landscapes while ensuring that they provide quality advice backed by sound evidence.
The Importance of Courage in Public Policy
The importance of courage within public service is a recurring theme in the conversation, particularly regarding the provision of frank and actionable advice to ministers. Kaiser reflects on the tendency among public servants to defer excessively to political leadership, which can stifle the boldness required to advocate for the public interest effectively. He stresses that while respecting political authority is vital, public servants must also possess the confidence to present their recommendations resolutely. By understanding their roles clearly, both public servants and ministers can engage in healthier, more constructive dialogues that ultimately enhance governmental decision-making.
Learning from Failure: The 'Fail Gallantly' Philosophy
Kaiser shares insights on the 'fail gallantly' philosophy, which encourages public servants to take calculated risks while recognizing that not every initiative will succeed. He promotes the idea that mistakes, when approached with the right mindset, can lead to valuable lessons and innovations in public service. Recalling instances where significant investments did not yield the expected returns, he emphasizes the need for a framework that celebrates effort and learning from failure, while also maintaining accountability. By fostering an environment where public servants are not penalized for unsuccessful endeavors that align with public interest goals, organizations can stimulate creativity and proactive problem-solving.
Mike Kaiser, recently departed head of the Queensland Public Service, joins us to chat about the interface between political offices and the public service, lessons from robodebt, why delivery is everything in government and the secret of leadership.
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.
If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Paper, Chris Knaus and Luke Henriques-Gomes at the Guardian, Ben Eltham at Crikey, Julian Bajkowski at The Mandarin, and of course, the Robodebt Royal Commission itself.
Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music.
'Til next time!
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