Retiring top spy calls for public servant training to avoid politicisation

Australia's apolitical public service is a "precious jewel" that needs nurturing, the outgoing head of ASIO has declared while suggesting a special training college could help the bureaucracy push back against politicisation.

Duncan Lewis, who will retire from ASIO this week after a long public career including time as commander of the nation's special forces, Australia's first national security adviser and ambassador to the EU and NATO, said in the military he had been "lavished" with nine years' worth of high quality training.

Outgoing ASIO chief Duncan Lewis, addressing senior public servants, described the nation's apolitical bureaucracy as "precious jewel".Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

But in 15 years with the public service he had only two three-day periods of training with some of that on management itself.

Mr Lewis said while the training levels of the defence force could not be replicated, the public service should look at ways of boosting its education and training.

"I think it's passing odd for example that there is no public service college per se," he said.

"We have schools and colleges in universities to be sure that cater for public sector training and education, but we do not have a highly-credentialed, renowned, respected, dedicated public service college for one of the largest workforces in the country.

"It's something to think about."

Mr Lewis said improved training would aid public servants to resist political pressures to do their job, arguing the apolitical public service was a strength.

"I think this sort of training may support public service leaders in better managing the attempted politicisation which we all face from time to time," he said.

"An apolitical public service such as ours doesn't just happen, it needs to be nurtured and defended.

"This is a complex and sometimes highly nuanced matter and we need to be specially schooled and prepared to respectively hold our ground.

"An apolitical public service is a a precious jewel and it must be a treasure we preserve."

Mr Lewis, who praised former prime minister John Howard for the way he had created an atmosphere where people could work at their highest levels, said many public servants would face choices where they had to decide between doing something right and doing the right thing.

He criticised the development of a "group of leaders" who had made the practice of "upward management" an "art form".

"They are worryingly common and not routinely called out. They progress beyond where they should and cause a great deal of stress and staff anxiety where ever they operate," he said.

"They typically get the job done, but at what cost? This genre of leader doesn't invest in their organisation, they draw it down on the available credit."