All for a better, bigger picture ...

Cynicism erodes democracies. Apathy kills them.

The media is free and open, reporting matters that politicians need to know about, matters they are ignoring, matters they are neglecting, or matters they are abusing. Ministers need to respond to the media; the media channels public events and opinions. The Internet is widening and accelerating that channel.

The minister is committed to the state. It is their career and their home. The minister is loyal and dedicated and works long hours, under public scrutiny. Media criticism is intense. They believe in a better future. They play politics at multiple levels; the factions, the Party, the Office, the Parliament, all for a better “bigger picture”. It’s complicated and often deeply personal. They strive to stay informed and aware. The responsibility is significant. The power immense. The public elects them.

The staffers grew up interested in politics. Maybe it was in their family or university or trade union politics. It doesn’t really matter. They are passionate, ambitious and confident. They are behind the minister 100 per cent. It’s their job and their future. They play in Party factions, engaging in intense debates, the mainstay of good policy. They care for, and crave power. Power is potential. They fight for it for change.

The senior bureaucrat has years of experience. Performance-based contracts improve their management skills. They understand how to administer the state. It is large and complicated and always needs fixing. They constitute networks that inter-link large state departments. Networks that get things done.

Senior SES manage many ministers, staffers and employees. They are wardens of the state. They translate political policies into practical projects with public budgets that build schools, improve transport systems, enhance health, regulate industries, re-distribute income, prevent crime, and clean the environment. They manage big departments with big budgets. They even leak to the media if it helps.

The policy analyst understands their role in the department. They establish consultative committees, and research and evaluate policy ideas. They strive to be knowledgeable, dispassionate and objective. This is evident in the numerous Ministerial Briefings and media responses they complete everyday. They too are networked across departments. They argue with the staffers over lunch. They ensure Parliamentary counsel is informed. They seek to ensure the political process is open to public consultation, media scrutiny, and the “check and balances” of long-established due processes.

On any week day, this occurs across the country, with most Australians completely oblivious to the process.