Monday April 14, 2025
In caretaker mode
On today’s episode of Work with Purpose, Andrew Walter from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Professor Anne Tiernan from the McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership unpack the caretaker conventions.
The Australian federal election campaign is well underway – this means the Australian Public Service is now in caretaker mode. But what does this mean for the day-to-day work of public servants?
Host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, speaks with Andrew Walter, first assistant secretary of the Government Division at PM&C, and Anne Tiernan, head of research and Professor of Political Leadership at the McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership, who walk us through the basics and talk about how to navigate political and administrative pitfalls. They also clarify when caretaker mode starts and ends, and how you can handle requests for information from ministers.
Key tips:
- Get in touch with your portfolio agency’s caretaker team if you have questions about caretaker conventions
- If you’ve never been through caretaker, familiarise yourself with the guidance and speak to team members who have experienced it before
- If a minister asks for factual information during caretaker period, you can provide it. However, be careful if it’s not the type of information you ordinarily provide, requires significant resources, or is likely to be used for campaign purposes. When in doubt, seek advice.
Show notes
Guidance on caretaker conventions | Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet
Caretaker Conventions in Australasia | Jennifer Menzies & Anne Tiernan | ANU Press
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