New Public Management Meets Civic Discontent? TheAustralian Public Service in 1999

The new millennium brings with it an irresistible urge to reflect. In particular, to reflect on the social, political and economic dimensions of our lives. We recently revisited our constitutional beginnings and chose to retain what our forefathers bequeathed to us. Yet, by contrast, with respect to the way our nation state is administered, we have witnessed significant change. We now have a public service that our forefathers would barely recognise.