A former Finance Department chief has called for bosses in the public service to prevent staff burnout in the COVID-19 crisis by managing fatigue levels.
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David Tune, who led the department between 2009 and 2014, said the pace of government activity appeared frenetic and the broader policy agenda seemed larger since the pandemic.
Mr Tune, in a paper about lessons from the Global Financial Crisis co-written with senior ACT public servant Megan Edwards, cautioned against burnout among public servants and called for the bureaucracy to take measures against the problem.
The paper, released on Monday to coincide with an Institute of Public Administration event, said fatigue had set in for public servants, ministers and their advisers as the GFC dragged on and the pace of government activity stayed high.
Mr Tune and Ms Edwards said a "crisis mentality" had seeped into broader government decision making during the GFC, leading to an unprecedented level of fatigue across the public service.
Mr Tune and Ms Edwards drew a lesson for public servants responding to the COVID-19 crisis, now into its second year.
"In addition to ensuring public service workplaces are COVID-safe, public service leaders will need to plan for and manage this fatigue in coming months," they said.
The public service's response to the pandemic has drawn praise from senior government ministers, with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg this month endorsing the efforts of bureaucrats during COVID-19 and thanking them for "carrying a heavy load" in the crisis.
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Mr Tune and Ms Edwards said the pandemic had shown expert advice remained a highly valued commodity in Australia's political system.
"When the chips are down, the political system turns to and values expert advice," they said.
"This was seen in the health response and the economic response and we have seen devastating impacts in other parts of the world that have not been as willing to heed advice."
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham in budget papers released last Tuesday described the large workload for public servants in delivering the government response to COVID-19.
"APS staff have proven themselves resilient and flexible, working long hours and reaching across traditional boundaries to deliver essential services to the public," he said.
The budget revealed public service staffing will grow by 5400 next fiscal year as the government leans on agencies to secure the health and economic recovery from the pandemic.
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