Anne Warner details how she received her ministry in Family Services, Aboriginal and Ethnic Affairs in the Goss Government. Largely, she suggests, it was given to her at the decision of Goss and Kevin Rudd. She describes how these large policy areas were aggregated under this administration. Anne Warner admits that this was a bit of a strain to have such a large department, and that the rationale for its size appeared primarily as a department for the neglected.
Anne Warner notes that she did not change her behaviour when she assumed the role of shadow spokesperson. Although she received more media attention she did not think she became media savvy. At this time she describes the quick movement of politics, particularly as a result of the Fitzgerald Inquiry. She notes that as a shadow spokesperson there was little information apart from leaks. However, she did have a good working relationship with people in the Family Services Department.
Ross Rolfe comments that he studied history at the University of Queensland and then joined the graduate program of the Commonwealth Public Service in Canberra in the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs. When the Queensland government changed in 1990 he moved to the equivalent department in Queensland, the Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs.
Ruth Matchett comments that the Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs was one of the larger ones (about 4000 staff) with several operations run 24 hours a day including, juvenile corrections facilities and services for people with intellectual disabilities. She discusses working with church and not-for-profit organisations to deliver services. She describes the long tradition of working with government and non-government agencies, and the value of community organisations bringing their own values and processes to the system.
