mmg.com.au

How is government doing in Australia? In this, a federal election year, the question takes on added significance.

Now the region’s residents have an opportunity to hear some insight into this question from someone who should know more than most.

Terry Moran held Australia’s highest public service job, secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, from 2008 to 2011 after being headhunted by Kevin Rudd from the Victorian public service. He is now among other things, as reported in the Telegraph recently, a board member of our own Nexus Primary Health.

At a time when at the political level there is despair with the level of debate and the perceived inability to make sound long-term decisions in the national or community interest and at the public service level, there are strong forces arguing for a substantial decrease in the numbers of government employees at all levels of government and suggesting that the system is bloated, inefficient and unresponsive. Mr Moran is well placed to offer some important insights into the state of government in Australia today.

He will speak at the Seymour U3A Melting Pot forum on March 5 at the Salvation Army hall, Victoria St, from 1.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

For more information contact secretary Trish Archer on 0409945807.