Roger Scott and Joan Sheldon discuss the appointment of under-treasurer and senior public service appointments more generally. Ross Rolfe comments on Doug McTaggart and the politicisation of the public service. Peter Ellis discusses the politicisation of the public service during the Borbidge era.
Peter Ellis discusses his experience of government spending from when he was Director General of Premiers and the strategic planning approach to budgeting that he worked with.
Symposium participant Geoff Ginn and Roger Scott discuss political partisanship in the interview process. Roger Scott discusses the key insights he took from the interviews. Peter Ellis comments on his experiences of change in the Public Service.
Symposium participant Katie McConnell asks about the process of linking up interviewees and interviewers. Roger Scott responds. Peter Ellis comments on his experience of the interview process.
Peter Coaldrake discusses the reviews of government departments. He outlines the review of the Police Department and the decision to release the report produced by the review.
Peter Coaldrake reflects on his early impressions of the Queensland public service. He discusses the appointment of heads of department. He highlights Erik Finger's role as the head of the public service.
Mal Grierson details the transition from Goss to Borbidge to Beattie. He notes that the Borbidge win appeared as a surprise. He also got the impression that machinery around Borbidge was not ready to take government. In his view, Borbidge then turned to the people he knew had experience, such as Peter Ellis and Kevin Davies. He notes that the return of these senior public servants was quite surprising to many people in the public service. He notes the removal of Under Treasurer Gerard Bradley and many other removals that caused dismay in the public service.
Geoff Smith discusses the challenges to an elected government following a long period in opposition. He speaks on the role of ministerial staff, reforms of the Goss Government and the role of the Griffith mafia. He elucidates on the restructuring of Queensland government departments and argues that following the review period, power remained with the Office of Cabinet and Treasury.
Rob Borbidge explains the arrangements within the Premier's Department and the processes for appointing directors general through a selection panel. He describes introducing fixed term contracts for the term of the government.
