Terry Hogan compares his experiences of public sector reform under the Hawke federal government in the 1980s and the Goss Government in Queensland in the 1990s. He comments on perceptions of politicisation of the public service, and notes the recurrence of this under the recently elected Newman Government. He recalls the lack of policy capacity in many government departments, and how the PSMC attempted to encourage a more policy coordinated public sector.

Diane Zetlin discusses finishing her Bachelor of Arts with Honours and getting her first academic job at the University of Queensland in 1976. She speaks about joining the Federated Australian University Staff Association (FAUSA), and becoming a union official. She became President, and later, in 1986 General Secretary.