Geoff Smith discusses the usefulness of ideological groupings in politics. He comments on Kevin Rudd's involvement in the Office of Cabinet and some of the contentious issues during this time.
Geoff Smith discusses the role of ministerial staff and the links between these staff and public servants. He comments on the power of the Office of Cabinet and his view that advice from the public service was often ignored in favour of the Office of Cabinet.
Erik Finger recalls the creation of the Office of the Cabinet in 1991 to absorb most of the policy and advice responsibilities of the Premier's Department.
Brian Head describes his reluctant decision to leave the Cabinet Office to head up the Public Sector Management Commission in 1994 and the work of the commission, including strategic human relations and industrial relations.
Brian Head discusses his job in the Queensland Premier's Department in the context of the changes wrought by Prime Minister Bob Hawke's new federalism, as well as his position as Cabinet Secretary and the reshaping of the Cabinet Office.
Brian Head discusses the public service gulag, and what he calls the political brutality of the early Goss years. He describes the policy limbo which he faced at the Premier's Department, noting that the new government did not trust the existing public servants, and discusses the reshaping of the section under Kevin Rudd in 1991.
Anne Warner discusses the role of the Office of Cabinet. She compares the large portfolio that federal minister Jenny Macklin had which combined social securtiy and Aboriginal affairs, with her own portfolio. She also notes that like her Jenny Macklin had no parliamentary secretaries and this was an idea of Kevin Rudd.
Anne Warner discusses the role of the Office of Cabinet and her relationship with them. She notes the centralisation of government in the period of the Goss Government where all decisions had to go through the cabinet office. To her, this system delayed the process of policy making. Anne Warner reflects that despite this there were many reforms completed over this period, such as the juvenile justice legislation.
Ann Scott recalls her appointment as Principal Policy Officer in the Women's Policy Unit in 1990, her subsequent employment in the Public Sector Management Commission and the Social Policy Unit, and the impact of Goss and Rudd's reforms to the ministerial and public service. She highlights the highly interventionist nature of the reforms and the turbulence and difficulty of the time.
Rob Borbidge discusses decision making structures within the government and the process of appointing cabinet. He explains how he introduced parliamentary secretaries. He discusses the controversies that affected the government and resulted in the resignation of three ministers.
