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Government Communications

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New Zealand lawmakers debate bill banning jargon from government communications

The government could be legally bound to use jargon-free language in its communications with the public under a new bill currently being debated by lawmakers. The Plain Language Bill seeks […]

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Australian election heats up as Labor’s pledge to cut public service contractors sparks political ad battle

Australia’s opposition Labor Party has said it will wean the Australian Public Service (APS) off its use of consultants and contractors and instead hire more public servants if it wins […]

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Keep calm and communicate: five keys to good government comms in a crisis

Crisis in government require clear communication, and clear communication requires a clear plan of what to do when challenges strike. James Humphreys sets out the rules to follow Those who […]

Former UK communications chief blames civil servants for poor pandemic messaging

Downing Street’s former director of communications, Lee Cain, has blamed civil servants for the mixed messages the public received during the Covid-19 pandemic, and reaffirmed his call for a major […]

Number 10 moves to take control of UK departmental press teams

The UK government is planning to centralise control of departmental communications and introduce daily televised press briefings, according to reports published in The Times and Financial Times newspapers.  The reports […]

Controversial “fake news” law passed in Singapore

Singapore’s parliament has passed legislation aimed at halting the spread of fake news, after the government said the country could be vulnerable to the spread of disinformation online. The Protection […]

Social media clashes hit India’s civil servants

As India’s public debate moves online, civil servants are running up against the ‘Service Rules’ that govern their participation – prompting calls for the Rules to adapt to the digital […]

Departmental chiefs reshuffled in New Zealand

New Zealand state services commissioner Peter Hughes has unveiled a series of personnel changes among the country’s top civil servants, with the direct appointment of five public service chief executives. […]

Australia achieves gender parity among federal secretaries

The Australian Government has achieved gender parity at the most senior level of the public service, with nine of its 18 departmental secretaries’ roles now occupied by women. Also known […]

Court orders Israeli commission to drop men-only course

A labour court in Jerusalem has ordered Israel’s Civil Service Commission to admit at least 10 women to a men-only civil service training course within 30 days – or shut […]