Administrative learning or political blaming? Public servants, parliamentary committees and the drama of public accountability

References

• AAP [Australian Associated Press]. 2010a. Top PM officials to front Senate insulation inquiry. AAP General News 26 February. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• AAP [Australian Associated Press]. 2010b. Garrett rejects royal commission calls. AAP General News 15 July. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• ABC [Australian Broadcasting Corporation]. 2010. Department head says sorry for insulation deaths. ABC News 22 February. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Advertiser. 2010. Garrett rejects insulation inquiry. Advertiser 16 July, 9. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Alexander, C. 2010. Bureaucrats kept damning report from Garrett. AAP General News 22 February. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Aucoin, P. and Heintzman, R. 2000. The dialectics of accountability for performance in public management reform. International Review of Administrative Sciences 66: 45–55. doi: 10.1177/0020852300661005
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Austin, J. 1962. How to do things with words. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
   Google Scholar
• Australian Government. 1989. Government guidelines for official witnesses before parliamentary committees and related matters. Canberra. URL: <http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=wit_sub/gov_full.htm>. Consulted 10 June 2013.
   Google Scholar
• Beeby, R. 2010a. Union warned govt on inadequate safety plan. Canberra Times 27 February, 6. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Beeby, R. 2010b. Senate inquiry hits out at govt's ‘systematic failures’. Canberra Times 16 July, 5. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Bovens, M., Schillemans, T. and t’ Hart, P. 2008. Does public accountability work? An assessment tool. Public Administration 86: 225–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2008.00716.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Breusch, J. 2010. Combet steps in as Garrett. Australian Financial Review 27 February, 2. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Cabinet Office. 2005. Departmental evidence and response to select committees. URL: <https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61192/guide-deptal-evidence-and-response-to-select-committees.pdf>. Consulted 10 June 2013.
   Google Scholar
• Coorey, P. and Hall, L. 2010. The incredible shrinking minister. Sydney Morning Herald 27 February, 1. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Edelman, M. 1964. The symbolic uses of politics. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
   Google Scholar
• Ellis, M. 2013. Lack of common sense that cost us £50 million: Fury at west coast rail farce. Daily Mirror 26 February, 16. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Freeman, T. and Peck, E. 2007. Performing governance: A partnership board dramaturgy. Public Administration 85: 907–29. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2007.00683.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gribben, R. 2013. Bungled west coast rail contract to cost taxpayer £50 m, say MPs. Daily Telegraph 26 February, 7. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Hajer, M. 2005a. Setting the stage: A dramaturgy of policy deliberation. Administration and Society 36: 624–47. doi: 10.1177/0095399704270586
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hajer, M. 2005b. Rebuilding ground zero: The politics of performance. Planning Theory and Practice 6: 445–64. doi: 10.1080/14649350500349623
   Google Scholar
• Hajer, M. 2006. The living institutions of the EU: Analysing governance as performance. Perspectives on European Politics and Society 7: 41–55. doi: 10.1080/15705850600839546
   Google Scholar
• Harrison, D. 2010. Coalition pledges insulation scheme inquiry. Age 16 July, 7. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Hondeghem, A. 2011. Changing public service bargains for top officials. Public Policy and Administration 26: 159–65. doi: 10.1177/0952076710387039
   Google Scholar
• Hood, C. 2011. The blame game: Spin, bureaucracy and self-preservation in government. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
   Google Scholar
• House of Commons. 2013. Department for Transport: Lessons from cancelling the InterCity West Coast franchise competition. Report by the Committee of Public Accounts. London: The Stationery Office Ltd.
   Google Scholar
• House of Lords. 2012. The accountability of civil servants. 6th Report of the House of Lords Constitution Committee, London. URL: <http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201213/ldselect/ldconst/61/6102.htm>. Consulted 13 December 2013.
   Google Scholar
• Jupe, R. 2013. New development: Going off the rails? Rail franchising after the cancellation of the West Coast franchise competition. Public Money and Management 33: 337–41. doi: 10.1080/09540962.2013.817119
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kirk, A. 2010. Senate urges royal commission into insulation scheme. ABC News 15 July. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Lewis, C. 2012. A recent scandal: The home insulation program. In K. Dowding and C. Lewis, eds. Ministerial careers and accountability in the Australian Commonwealth Government. Canberra: ANU E Press.
   Google Scholar
• Lindquist, E. and Rasmussen, K. 2012. Deputy Ministers and new political governance: From neutral competence to promiscuous partisans to a new balance? In H. Bakvis and M. Jarvis, eds. From new public management to new political governance. Montreal: McGill–Queens University Press.
   Google Scholar
• Menzies, R. 1970. The measure of the years. Sydney: Cassell Australia.
   Google Scholar
• Mulgan, R. 2002. Public accountability of provider agencies: The case of the Australian ‘Centrelink’. International Review of Administrative Sciences 68: 45–59. doi: 10.1177/0020852302681003
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mulgan, R. 2008. The accountability priorities of Australian parliamentarians. Australian Journal of Public Administration 67: 457–69. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8500.2008.00602.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mulgan, R. 2012. Assessing ministerial responsibility in Australia. In K. Dowding and C. Lewis, eds. Ministerial careers and accountability in the Australian Commonwealth Government. Canberra: ANU E Press.
   Google Scholar
• Odell, M. 2013. MPs pinpoint blame for West Coast rail debacle. Financial Times 26 February, 4. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Official Committee Hansard. 2010a. Senate: Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee. Canberra Times 22 February. URL: <www.aphref.aph.gov.au_hansard_senate_commttee_s12843>. Consulted 10 June 2013.
   Google Scholar
• Official Committee Hansard. 2010b. Senate: Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee. Canberra Times 26 February. URL: <www.aphref.aph.gov.au_hansard_senate_commttee_s12859>. Consulted 10 June 2013.
   Google Scholar
• Official Committee Hansard. 2010c. Senate – Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee. Canberra Times 25 March. URL: <www.aphref.aph.gov.au_hansard_senate_commttee_s12937>. Consulted 10 June 2013.
   Google Scholar
• Peck, E., Freeman, T., Six, P. and Dickinson, H. 2009. Performing leadership: Towards a new research agenda in leadership studies? Leadership 5: 25–40. doi: 10.1177/1742715008098308
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sherman, J. 2012. Taxpayer hit for £6 m more in rail bid fiasco. The Times [Online] 14 December. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Stone, D. 2002. Policy paradox: The art of political decision making. London: W.W. Norton and Company.
   Google Scholar
• Sulitzeanu-Kenan, R. 2010. Reflection in the shadow of blame: When do politicians appoint commissions of inquiry? British Journal of Political Science 40: 613–34. doi: 10.1017/S0007123410000049
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ‘t Hart, P. 1993. Symbols, rituals and power: The lost dimensions of crisis management. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management 1: 36–50. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-5973.1993.tb00005.x
   Google Scholar
• ‘t Hart, P. and Wille, A. 2006. Ministers and top officials in the Dutch core executive: Living together, growing apart? Public Administration 84: 121–46. doi: 10.1111/j.0033-3298.2006.00496.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Thomas, N. 2012. West Coast bid civil servants ‘penny wise and pound foolish’. The Daily Telegraph 14 December, 5. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Topham, G. 2013. Transport: More rail contracts may be bungled, MPs warn. Guardian 26 February, 24. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Weaver, K. 1986. The politics of blame avoidance. Journal of Public Policy 6: 371–98. doi: 10.1017/S0143814X00004219
   Google Scholar
• Weller, P. 2001. Australia's mandarins: The frank and the fearless? Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
   Google Scholar
• Williamson, D. 2013. Rail fiasco: MP calls for heads – report slams collapse of franchise deal. Liverpool Echo 26 February, 4. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar
• Woodman, P. 2012. Franchise fiasco bill ‘could grow’. Press Association National Newswire 13 December. Consulted 13 December 2013 via Factiva database.
   Google Scholar