In January 2003, the day before the Canberra bushfires struck, I left Melbourne with my now-wife to commence working as a graduate economist at the Australian Treasury.
I was inducted by then-Secretary Ken Henry and his deputies, who taught us about the Treasury’s long tradition of providing “frank and fearless” advice to the federal government based on rigour and evidence.
We were instructed to evaluate matters objectively and without bias, and to provide opposing viewpoints confidently. Analytical excellence and protecting Australians’ “wellbeing” were also priorities.
