Too many or toofew?The increase in federal ministerial advisers 1972-1999
By: MALEY, Maria
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ArticlePublisher: Oxford : Blackwell Publishers Limited, December 2000Australian Journal of Public Administration 59, 4, p. 48-53Abstract: This paper examines recently published figures that show the increase in ministerial staff between 1972 and 1996 (Dunn 1997). A careful examination of the table in Dunn's book reveals it gives a misleading impression of the number of ministerial staff; the number of advisory staff to minister;and the growth in advisory resources over the Hawke-Keating period. By re-analysing the figures the paper reveals the reality of the growth in advisory staff to ministers in 1972-1999. It provides an account of the number of staff providing policy and political advice to ministers in ministerial offices, rather than total staff numbers. It reveals advisory resources to ministers have grown significantly since the introduction of ministerial adviers in 1972. However, the growth in adviser numbers over the Hawke-Keating period was more modest than is suggested by Dunn's table. The paper provides the base data needed for a discussion of the increase in ministerial staff and whether there are too few or too many federal ministerial advisers
This paper examines recently published figures that show the increase in ministerial staff between 1972 and 1996 (Dunn 1997). A careful examination of the table in Dunn's book reveals it gives a misleading impression of the number of ministerial staff; the number of advisory staff to minister;and the growth in advisory resources over the Hawke-Keating period. By re-analysing the figures the paper reveals the reality of the growth in advisory staff to ministers in 1972-1999. It provides an account of the number of staff providing policy and political advice to ministers in ministerial offices, rather than total staff numbers. It reveals advisory resources to ministers have grown significantly since the introduction of ministerial adviers in 1972. However, the growth in adviser numbers over the Hawke-Keating period was more modest than is suggested by Dunn's table. The paper provides the base data needed for a discussion of the increase in ministerial staff and whether there are too few or too many federal ministerial advisers
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