Dan Holmes
@dholmesnoise.bsky.social
Canberra based journalist with themandarin.com.au covering the Australian public sector.
Nerd. Context advocate. Recovering composer and music dude.
dholmes@themandarin.com.au
Apsanonymous@proton.me
Signal: Apsanonymous.2600
Nerd. Context advocate. Recovering composer and music dude.
dholmes@themandarin.com.au
Apsanonymous@proton.me
Signal: Apsanonymous.2600
There might only be one sitting week left, but there's plenty of Parliamentary business to go on with this year.
#ausnews #auspol
#ausnews #auspol
Committee business to pull APS back to parliament
From tax breaks to PwC bans, the Senate is flexing its inquiry muscle; public servants should expect a busy return to parliament.
www.themandarin.com.au
November 10, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Dan Holmes
More than 155,000 Canberrans now work for government.
How the ACT's public sector wage bill compares to the rest of the country
Brittney Levinson, Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:30
www.canberratimes.com.au
November 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
More than 155,000 Canberrans now work for government.
Another one from The Mandarin's Frank and Fearless survey
Frank and Fearless: Public servants really feeling Under Pressure
Public servants' taste in music and sense of fun is as diverse as their skillsets and workplace experience.
www.themandarin.com.au
November 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Another one from The Mandarin's Frank and Fearless survey
Kudos to @mattbevan.bsky.social for making a good fist of examining the caveats to power/water usage claims associated with AI use.
Is this the new carbon footprint?
Is this the new carbon footprint?
Can we afford to power AI? - ABC listen
In the last decade, the number of data centres worldwide has doubled. As the tech bros spend big to render AI an irreplaceable part of our everyday lives, the energy and water required is truly eye-wa...
www.abc.net.au
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Kudos to @mattbevan.bsky.social for making a good fist of examining the caveats to power/water usage claims associated with AI use.
Is this the new carbon footprint?
Is this the new carbon footprint?
Taking name suggestions for my lapel duck.
October 30, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Taking name suggestions for my lapel duck.
Happy queer Christmas eve to those who celebrate 🎃
October 29, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Happy queer Christmas eve to those who celebrate 🎃
Home Affairs is asking agencies to confirm they've removed Tiktok, Kaspersky, and Deepseek from government devices by Friday.
Home Affairs checks agency cyber homework
Home Affairs has given agencies days to uninstall software deemed a national security risk, including TikTok and Kaspersky.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 28, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Home Affairs is asking agencies to confirm they've removed Tiktok, Kaspersky, and Deepseek from government devices by Friday.
Last week, we learnt "restoring the territory lifestyle" includes:
- merging integrity agencies
- more FOI exemptions
- cops hired on merit, not nepotism
- more guns
#auspol #NT #ausnews
- merging integrity agencies
- more FOI exemptions
- cops hired on merit, not nepotism
- more guns
#auspol #NT #ausnews
Northern Territory's blistering reform week
The NT government is overhauling its integrity framework, gun laws, public trustee, and police commissioner hiring processes.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Awkward-funny questions about Helmy's repeated "penis" and "butthole" non-sequiters were cut for length and relevance.
What's left is even wilder.
www.themandarin.com.au/301711-icac-...
What's left is even wilder.
www.themandarin.com.au/301711-icac-...
ICAC NSW: 'I hate everyone. I just love money'
Ibrahim Helmy's alleged $11.5 million kickback scheme unravels in a trail of cash, contracts, and crude messages.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Awkward-funny questions about Helmy's repeated "penis" and "butthole" non-sequiters were cut for length and relevance.
What's left is even wilder.
www.themandarin.com.au/301711-icac-...
What's left is even wilder.
www.themandarin.com.au/301711-icac-...
I cover government and the public sector, but some weeks it feels like I cover corruption and integrity exclusively.
ICAC NSW to make illegal recording powers permanent
The NSW government is moving to make ICAC's capacity to use illegally obtained recordings as evidence permanent.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 22, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I cover government and the public sector, but some weeks it feels like I cover corruption and integrity exclusively.
NT is merging ICAC, the Ombud and Information Commission, and the Healthcare and Social Services Commission.
The ICAC inspector reckons there isn't enough legal talent in the territory to sustain them as standalone agencies.
#ausnews #auspol
The ICAC inspector reckons there isn't enough legal talent in the territory to sustain them as standalone agencies.
#ausnews #auspol
NT to merge integrity agencies into single authority
The Northern Territory government is overhauling its integrity agencies following a review into why the system isn't working as intended.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 21, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Reposted by Dan Holmes
If you missed the hearing into Govt's Freedom of Information bill, @themandarin.bsky.social's @dholmesnoise.bsky.social has great summary.
"Nobody wants to claim credit for the government’s FOI reform bill, or even the evidence being used to promote it." www.themandarin.com.au/301361-infor...
"Nobody wants to claim credit for the government’s FOI reform bill, or even the evidence being used to promote it." www.themandarin.com.au/301361-infor...
Information optional in blockbuster FOI inquiry
Nobody wants to claim credit for the government's FOI reform bill, or even the evidence being used to promote it.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 20, 2025 at 10:56 PM
If you missed the hearing into Govt's Freedom of Information bill, @themandarin.bsky.social's @dholmesnoise.bsky.social has great summary.
"Nobody wants to claim credit for the government’s FOI reform bill, or even the evidence being used to promote it." www.themandarin.com.au/301361-infor...
"Nobody wants to claim credit for the government’s FOI reform bill, or even the evidence being used to promote it." www.themandarin.com.au/301361-infor...
Reposted by Dan Holmes
Contracts still being won amid consultancy AI blunder.
Departments wary of consultant AI use after Deloitte report
Ray Athwal, Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:30
www.canberratimes.com.au
October 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Contracts still being won amid consultancy AI blunder.
People don't necessarily trust the #NACC, but it's still more trusted than politicians or parliament.
#ausnews #auspol
#ausnews #auspol
Anti-corruption bodies twice as trusted as politicians
Public servants continue to be seen as more trustworthy than politicians according to the Australian Constitutional Values Survey.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I really don't envy Administrative Review Tribunal leadership right now. Sounds like a rough gig.
ART sheds light on 'perfect storm' slowing appeals
The Administrative Review Tribunal has achieved a $23 million budget surplus because it can't find the workers to manage its caseload.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 14, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I really don't envy Administrative Review Tribunal leadership right now. Sounds like a rough gig.
@sydmorningherald.bsky.social has been doing a great job of reporting this ICAC NSW case, but I'm looking for different things.
What really struck me was Helmy's evidence about the preconditions at Transport for NSW that enabled someone to get away with a 12-year bribery scheme.
#ausnews #NSW
What really struck me was Helmy's evidence about the preconditions at Transport for NSW that enabled someone to get away with a 12-year bribery scheme.
#ausnews #NSW
Former Transport worker cops it sweet in ICAC NSW hearings
Ibrahim Helmy has taken the stand at ICAC NSW for the first time. He didn't deny much.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 12, 2025 at 10:34 PM
@sydmorningherald.bsky.social has been doing a great job of reporting this ICAC NSW case, but I'm looking for different things.
What really struck me was Helmy's evidence about the preconditions at Transport for NSW that enabled someone to get away with a 12-year bribery scheme.
#ausnews #NSW
What really struck me was Helmy's evidence about the preconditions at Transport for NSW that enabled someone to get away with a 12-year bribery scheme.
#ausnews #NSW
Stats courtesy of OAIC, data.gov, and @australiainstitute.org.au ☺️
October 8, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Stats courtesy of OAIC, data.gov, and @australiainstitute.org.au ☺️
Senator Roberts telling @senatorwong.bsky.social she's "far superior" to other Senators, mid gender-politics rant, was not on my estimates bingo card.
#auspol #ausnews #senateestimates
#auspol #ausnews #senateestimates
October 8, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Senator Roberts telling @senatorwong.bsky.social she's "far superior" to other Senators, mid gender-politics rant, was not on my estimates bingo card.
#auspol #ausnews #senateestimates
#auspol #ausnews #senateestimates
Two from me this morning on #senateestimates yesterday.
1. National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) CEO Phillip Reed has defended Paul Brereton against accusations the commissioner is managing conflicts of interest inappropriately.
www.themandarin.com.au/300647-nacc-...
#ausnews #auspol
1. National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) CEO Phillip Reed has defended Paul Brereton against accusations the commissioner is managing conflicts of interest inappropriately.
www.themandarin.com.au/300647-nacc-...
#ausnews #auspol
NACC establishes Defence lines for commissioner
NACC CEO Phillip Reed has faced tough questions in Senate estimates about Paul Brereton's ongoing ties to the IGADF.
www.themandarin.com.au
October 7, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Two from me this morning on #senateestimates yesterday.
1. National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) CEO Phillip Reed has defended Paul Brereton against accusations the commissioner is managing conflicts of interest inappropriately.
www.themandarin.com.au/300647-nacc-...
#ausnews #auspol
1. National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) CEO Phillip Reed has defended Paul Brereton against accusations the commissioner is managing conflicts of interest inappropriately.
www.themandarin.com.au/300647-nacc-...
#ausnews #auspol
It's 2025, and people are still using the term "Isis brides".
Just Don't.
Just Don't.
October 7, 2025 at 12:39 AM
It's 2025, and people are still using the term "Isis brides".
Just Don't.
Just Don't.
At the end of an extremely busy couple of months, thanking everyone for their patience with me triaging their messages.
I'll be catching up over the next week. Contact me on signal at apsanonymous.2600.
I'll be catching up over the next week. Contact me on signal at apsanonymous.2600.
October 1, 2025 at 9:48 PM
At the end of an extremely busy couple of months, thanking everyone for their patience with me triaging their messages.
I'll be catching up over the next week. Contact me on signal at apsanonymous.2600.
I'll be catching up over the next week. Contact me on signal at apsanonymous.2600.