Introducing the third of our Crikey Conversations — an occasional series of extended video interviews on a range of relevant and timely topics.

Andrew Podger is one of the most respected leaders in public administration in Australia.

In this Crikey Conversation, he chats to Crikey political correspondent Bernard Keane about trends in public administration under the Rudd Government, accountability and transparency in the public sector, finding the right balance in maintaining a neutral but responsive bureaucracy, the challenges of the economic crisis and the future of the Australian Public Service.

As a former senior public servant in the Keating and Howard Governments, including Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing and Australian Public Service Commissioner, Podger has extensive experience at the highest levels of government.  As National President of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, he now leads the professional body devoted to the exchange of ideas on trends, practices and innovations in public administration.

Mr Podger is also a consultant and academic.

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