The Policy Work of Australian Political Staff

Abstract

It is useful to understand the policy work of Australian political staff as occurring in three different arenas: working with the department; working with other ministers (within the political executive) and working with stakeholders. Each of these roles has a different character and purpose. The work in two of these arenas – working with the department on policy and working with other ministers in policy coordination – is seen as a core part of their work; it is their responsibility. This policy work arises from their institutional identity. The other arena for their policy activity – working with stakeholders – represents an opportunity rather than a responsibility for Australian partisan advisers. In this work they can be seen as individual policy actors, operating within a privileged location. It is important not to collapse different types of policy work in analysing the policy role of political staff.