Our Chair Terry Moran was called on for comment by David Donaldson in his new Mandarin article on the differing views of the ideal tenure and longevity of top bureaucrats and secretaries.

Asked what is a suitable amount of time to enact meaningful change and impact for the top public servant job, Terry takes the position that there should be a minimum posting of five years. Terry was the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the most senior position in the Australian Public Service, for three and a half years under Prime Ministers Rudd and Gillard. He was also previously the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Victoria for eight years. Reflecting on his major tenures, Terry takes the position for a Secretary to be successful and have a strategic leadership role, “five years is not long enough”.

Read the article here.