Toxic and deceptive behaviour by senior public servants will be targeted in a multipronged attack to stamp out bullying, lift policy and delivery standards and potentially require all officials to be stewards for good government.

Newly installed public service commissioner Gordon de Brouwer said the tough new measures in response to the scathing robo-debt royal commission report are just the first instalment of a major overhaul of public-sector practices that aims to ensure such a debacle cannot be repeated.