Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: The Albanese government has made progress in rebuilding the Australian Public Service capability but has failed to restore the promised level of independence, risking the potential for future governments to easily undo reforms.

For meaningful change, reform must be legislated, particularly regarding merit-based appointments and the role of the APS commissioner, as highlighted by past reports and current crossbench discussions.

There is a call for the government to adopt substantive legislative reforms to enhance APS integrity, capability, and future performance, moving beyond mere political assurances.