Australia's Mandarins

Sitting at the top of the Australian public service hierarchy is a group of people known as Departmental Secretaries. These Secretaries, once called Permanent Heads, are commonly perceived as wielding enormous power. With their expertise, knowledge and unparalleled access to ministers, Departmental Secretaries are seen as shadowy but influential figures in determining how Australia is governed. They are often regarded as the real policy-makers. This is an analysis of the reality of the role of Departmental Secretaries and their changing position over the last 50 years. It evaluates the arguments about their influence and power, the continuing debates about politicization and their responsibility to preserve a national interest, and the sometimes rocky relationship between the Departmental Secretaries and their ministers. Based on over 100 interviews with past and present Secretaries, the book provides a collective portrait of a crucial group of actors in Australia's political scene. By exploring the impact of the Departmental Secretaries, it not only asks how much that role has changed but raises questions about what the future of the public service might be.