Analysis

Health chief invokes ‘AFR test’ in proposal writing overhaul

Federal Health chief Blair Comley is pushing a radical change in how his department thinks and works starting with the basics of writing.

Tom BurtonGovernment editor

Mar 21, 2024 – 2.44pm

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Blair Comley has invoked what he calls “the AFR test” as he pushes executives in his 6000-strong federal health department to write and therefore, think, more clearly.

Mr Comley, a self-admitted extrovert who took the top job last year, has told staff that having to rewrite endless briefs made him “grumpy”, was a waste of time, and disempowered everyone in the approval chain.

Tom Burton has held senior editorial and publishing roles with The Mandarin, The Sydney Morning Herald and as Canberra bureau chief for The Australian Financial Review. He has won three Walkley awards.