The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has joined the Museum of Australian Democracy (MOAD) at Old Parliament House in Canberra to launch an exhibition exploring the role of the Australian Public Service (APS) in democracy.
In a statement, the APSC said that since Federation in 1901, the APS had informed, supported and implemented the decisions of the Government of the day.
It said the work of Public Servants then (pictured), and now, was both visible and invisible; it reflected the times and impacted each and every Australian.
Picking up on this theme, the exhibition is been titled as Australia’s Public Service For the Government of the Day.
The display features objects from APS Departments, and personal collections and case-studies which highlight the work of the APS during a selection of key moments of national significance relating to the health and wealth of Australia.
“Every person in the country is connected through the work of the Australia Public Service. The Federal Government’s Public Servants have helped shape Australia,” MOAD said.
“Their activity, both visible and invisible, is as essential to the functioning of our democracy as the Parliament, judiciary or Head of State.”
It said that providing apolitical, ‘frank and fearless’ advice to Government had been one of the hallmarks of the Public Service.
“This exhibition explores how the APS has informed, supported and implemented the decisions of the Governments of the day,” MOAD said.
“Objects pulled from the basements of Government Departments create an eclectic snapshot of the APS.”
The exhibition was officially opened by Assistant Minister to the Minister for the Public Service, Ben Morton.
