Paul Tilley

Peter Costello tackles the thorny issue of where, when and how a department of state should be having its own view, and what does that mean for the relationship between the secretary of the Treasury and the treasurer of the day.

Paul Tilley tracks how Treasury’s role has evolved over its history, from the government’s bookkeeper at Federation to the economic policy agency of today. His new book explains the changes in the relationship between the public service and the government of the day, and how and why we reached the situation we are in today, with the public service becoming more information providers and implementers of government decisions than policy influencers.