The Policy Work of Australian Political Staff

It is useful to understand the policy work of Australian political staff as occurring in three arenas: working with the department, with other ministers, and with stakeholders. Each has a different character and purpose. The work in two of these arenas—working with the department on policy and working with other ministers in policy coordination—is a core part of their work and their institutional identity. Working with stakeholders represents an opportunity rather than a responsibility, arising from their privileged location. It is important not to collapse different types of policy work in analyzing the policy role of political staff.