Introduction
Brisbane has a very special place in my heart.
I worked for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd when he was also the local member right here on Brisbane’s Southside. I saw the Public Service respond to the challenges of that era. A world leading response to the Global Financial Crisis. Nation building infrastructure like the National Broadband Network. And school halls and libraries that support students to this very day.
I liked working for Kevin. But, I am sorry to say Kevin was not my favourite person in the office. Because his office was also where I met my wife. A Queenslander who had come to work for him from the Australian Public Service. Jess worked down the road for Services Australia. Helping families get the support they need. It reminds me that public servants aren’t faceless bureaucrats. Public servants are our family, friends and neighbours. They are, you are, deeply patriotic Australians. Looking to literally serve your fellow citizens.
Three things
Today I want to tell you three things.
One, I want to tell you why the APS is the best public service in the world.
Two, I want to share what the Australian Government is doing to make it even stronger.
Three, I want to share what you can do for your service and your nation.
Let’s start with why Australia has the best public service in the world.
The why
I want to tell you why the Australian Public Service is the best public service in the world.
One powerful example is a distinctly Queensland story. The University of Queensland developed the life-saving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Then the APS transformed that breakthrough into a national rollout of the HPV vaccine through schools and health services. The result is extraordinary. Australia is on track to effectively eliminate cervical cancer. First in the world. That is what happens when world-class research is matched by a world-class public service.
The same is true in the digital world. Australia’s pioneering e-Safety laws have set a global benchmark for online safety.
These laws protect children with a social media delay. But legislation alone does not protect people. Implementation does. It was our public servants who worked through the detail. They translated complex global digital challenges into protections that Australian families can rely on. They rely on you to respond to natural disasters, as we saw during cyclone Alfred last year. Coordinating emergency payments, recovery services, and rebuilding efforts when communities are at their most vulnerable. Protecting thousands of Australians every year and demonstrating how innovation drives better outcomes for Australians.
One of the defining achievements of modern Australia is Medicare. Our public servants are processing claims, resolving complex cases, improving digital systems, and ensuring payments are accurate and timely. Last financial year alone, Medicare delivered 480.6 million claims to more than 27.5 million Australians.
What is the government doing
Now I want to share two initiatives that will make the APS even stronger.
In 2025, Minister Katy Gallagher released the new AI Plan for the APS. Agencies are harnessing AI to analyse data, streamline service delivery, and deploy resources effectively. Home Affairs now uses an AI-powered model to strengthen illegal drug detection. More than 3 million international mail consignments are scanned each month. The ReefCloud AI model analyses coral reef composition with 90 per cent accuracy - 700 times faster than traditional methods.
Innovation is no longer the exception in the APS. It is how we show up and deliver every day. At the heart of that innovation are the APS Values, including our newest value – Stewardship. It reminds us of the choices we make today shape the world of tomorrow. Excellence in the APS has never meant claiming perfection. It has meant learning from past mistakes and choosing to do better.
What can you do
To keep our public service truly world class, each of us must take personal responsibility for the standards we bring to work every day. Antisemitism and antisemites are not welcome here. Racism and discrimination have no place in public service. They undermine trust, weaken teams, and diminish our ability to deliver for our communities effectively. A fair and inclusive public service is essential to delivering for Australians. The public service should and must reflect the community and communities, which it serves.
In 2025, 26.8 per cent of APS employees reported their first language was not exclusively English. That’s why we now have 11.8 per cent of SES is Culturally and Linguistically Diverse. And for the first time in the APS, more than 100 First Nations leaders are in Senior Executive Service roles. There is more to do but that is something in which we can all be proud.
Integrity must be non-negotiable. It is the foundation of public trust and the standard we carry into every decision, every interaction, and every action. Trust in Australian public services increased to 62 per cent in 2025, up four points from 2024, with trust in specific services reaching 73 per cent. Every decision strengthens the public service and, in turn, improves the everyday experience of citizens. Above all, each of us must focus on delivery. Delivering outcomes that improve lives, strengthen communities, and make the best use of public resources.
Conclusion
So today, I celebrate you.
You are the force behind iconic moments of national significance. You are part of the best public service in the world. You are part of the journey of APS reform and improvement. And you have an important role to play in building Australia’s future.