As we mentioned in our news service, the Grattan Institute has just released a report titled Gridlock: removing barriers to policy reform

It was very critical of systemic problems in government including

• The reducing of expertise and independence of the public service,

• Too many ministerial advisers closely tied to political parties

• Lack of control of political donations, campaign finance, lobbying, and post-politics careers.

• And the absence of a federal anti-corruption commission with teeth.

Is there a strong basis for their comments and what should be down about it?

Ken Dobinson was a senior executive in what was then the Department of Main Roads in NSW and he joins us now.