Terry Hogan reflects on the changes to his own working circumstances when Peter Beattie won office in 1998. He recalls being approached to head a policy coordination division within the Premier's Department, resuming some of the operations of the Office of the Cabinet. He describes his work chairing a Native Title taskforce for the premier.
Terry Hogan describes the changes he experienced as RTA manager when Rob Borbidge's coalition took office in 1996, including working with new Housing Ministers. He recalls the reaction of several senior executives to the stripping back of policy coordination systems put in place during the Goss years.
Terry Hogan describes his role as a review manager in the PSMC, including undertaking a review of the Treasury Department. He notes that while some departments resisted change, others saw benefit in working with the review process.
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.
Mary Kelly comments on the industrial dispute in 1987, when the Bjelke-Petersen government tried to take away leave-loading for public servants, including teachers, and the action that the attempt spurred.
Paul Reynolds discusses Wayne Goss's reform agenda, including his focus on the public service. He highlights that Goss's reform agenda coincided with the Fitzgerald Inquiry and notes the significant impact the PSMC had on the public service.
Denver Beanland describes how parliamentary processes have changed since the Bjelke-Petersen government. He distinguishes the differences between the CJC and the CMC, and how the public service has changed.
Peter Henneken discusses public service reform and the centralisation of decision making. He notes the reforms in relations to labour policy. He also makes the point that some of the language about the unions used by Kevin Rudd as prime minister was also used during the Goss years. He discusses the balance between central agencies and departments in successive Queensland governments.
