With a few notable exceptions, economic and labour historians have also shown litlle interest in analysing the operation and impact of performance-based payment systems in Australia. With a view to shedding more light on the long-term impact of such schemes, this paper examines the origin,...

The paper provides a critical analysis of the operation of performance-based pay in the Australian Public Service (APS) from 1992 to 1996 and questions the desire by the Federal Coalition Government for 'further experimentation' with such managerial incentives. The paper argues that the...