Public Servants: Seen but not heard?
Secretary of the federal Department of Treasury, Mr Ken Henry has overstepped the mark by passing public comment on population growth, Dr Nick Economou argues that this is not the role of a Department Head.
For those of a bleak disposition the Australian policy debate over the last few weeks has been nothing short of harrowing. Warnings that the sky is about to fall in (the form of global warming caused by climate change) have been echoing across the policy debate for months and months.
Then, in a major contribution to the fear factor gripping the citizenry, a federal parliamentary committee warned that the seas would be rising as well - to such an extent, in fact, that Victoria's Westernport bay faces inundation.
This is particularly serious news for people who live in Hastings. Then, to top everything off, in a public address by the Secretary of the federal Department of Treasury, Mr Ken Henry, the prospect was raised of Australia's population reaching 30 million people with Sydney and Melbourne growing to 7 million each (or thereabouts) by 2050.
On being questioned about this forecast, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd indicated that he was at least sanguine, if not slightly excited about the prospect of Australia experiencing such growth. Of course, Rudd's demeanour probably reflected the fact that he might not be around by 2050, let alone still be prime minister. Mr Henry's view, on the other hand, was much more pessimistic.
Where, he wondered, would Australia find the environmental resources to deal with such population change. If it is possible to step back from the ceaseless official predictions of ecological doom and destruction for a moment, Mr Henry's contribution to the public debate last week threw some light on another interesting development in Australian politics.
The Secretary's speech on a wide range of topics, clearly made for the purpose of public consumption, was a sign of how the role of a senior public servant in Australian politics seems to have changed.
In the old days, the idea of a Westminster system was that a division of labour existed between politicians and public servants. Ministers were considered to be the appropriate oracles on political matters because they were the ones who had run in an election, had been elected to parliament, and whose party had won enough seats to form a government.
The contribution of the public service was supposed to be a matter between Ministers and their departmental heads. In short, under the system that is supposed to apply, people like Ken Henry should be seen and not heard - well, not by the general public anyway.
Under the old standards, if Mr Henry wanted to make a contribution to the policy debate he would have had to do so via his responsible minister.
The fact that Mr Henry now seems to be a general contributor to the policy debate (not only on the economy, but, it would seem, now also on matters ranging from the environment through to urban planning) shows that the old standards clearly no longer apply.
There is a rather interesting situation developing where senior public servants like Mr Henry are becoming almost cult figures in the policy debate. As riveting as this may be for journalists and other political spectators, the fact is that Mr Henry's recent performance was completely contrary to the spirit of the Westminster system.
- Show full page
- Login or register to post comments
-
Advertisement
-
We should accept gay marriage(11)
-
Hellenic line in the sand(5)
-
Why can’t they flirt?(4)
-
Greece Reaps the Fruits of Corruption(4)
-
Greek lobby mixed efforts in Canberra(4)
-
The politics of transition in Greek Australian community organisations(4)
More from this Section
- Greeks are not rude, just more human
- Who will take responsibility for Labor's disaster?
- Chart-stopper sexualising domestic violence
- Greek philosophy: Socrates
- Mirrors and distortions in Greece
- St Shirley of Mt Waverley
- The Coalition campaign is coming off the rails
- Gillard's biggest challenge revealed
- Oh Paul, where art thou?
- The Homecoming-An Expat Returns
Advertisement
-
Companies are increasingly branding their product with the Australia Made, Australia Grown logo
-
Around 150 people met this week to lobby for the reintroduction of Greek language at Wales Street Primary School
-
Arthur Galan wowed audiences at Spring Fashion week this week
-
Greece lost to Turkey by eleven points in the World Basketball Championships after vying for the lead in the third quarter.
-
The three Greek clubs - Aris, AEj and PAOK - are drawn in tough groups for the Europa League
-
The Greek Film Festival is touring Australia next month
-
Letho Kostoglou is the first Greek Australian to attempt a complete reconstructon of Mozart's Requiem Mass
-
Actor turned accessory-maker, Dimitris Dassios cuts a fine figure
-
Melbourne jeweller Vikki Kassioras tells Melissa Chrys about hew jewellery-making practice
-
South Australian artisan cheesemaker, Kris Lloyd, has a true passion for her craft
-
Greek authorities have reassured the Greek public that their fears of eating pork following the swine flu scare are misplaced.
-
Tan blotches beware. We have some tips to get you from streaky tiger to bikini ready Giselle in no time!
-
Our bride-to-be and resident fashionista MELISSA CHRYS charts her progress through the treacherous waters that surround her upcoming wedding.
-
Victoria Haralambidou talks about her role in the Anna Kokkinos movie, Blessed, and about having a career in two countries - Greece and Australia.
-
The Greek government is proposing a clear distinction between foreign colleges in Greece and regular universities, noting that the former would not be afforded the same status as the latter, despite the threat of huge fines from the European Commission.
-
Athens is an interesting place for a young Australian Greek journalist to land in and observe the way the city and its people have changed since his last visit to Greece.
-
Thomas Andronas reviews the all-woman rebetiko ensemble from Greece, San Mayiemenes and their homage to women rebetiko singers.
-
The farmers blockades have continued into their fourth week despite the decision on Thursday by a key farmers group to call off their blockades.
-
Greece put in a respectable effort to finish eighth in the European Volleyball Championships.
-
Ticket sales have opened for the 2009 Greek Film Festival which is due to commence on September 2 in Melbourne.
-
Nick Nikolopoulos shares his experience of putting his best foot forward in running two successful podiatry practices.
-
25 year old Sydney actress Andrea Demitiriades reveals herself as a confident and effortlessly charming individual.
-
-
Australia Post is celebrating its 200 years of operation by launching 'Letters of Australia,' a project to publish letters from all Australians.
-
Dr Nick Economou suggests that Rudd's tactical superiority over the Opposition is evident in his secondement of senior Liberals, past enemies, into senior government positions.
-
The Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, reveals the details and the timelines for the enhancement of the Greek Precinct in the Melbourne cbd.
-
Roughly one-third of all cars on Greek roads have not passed a roadworthiness test (KTEO) in the last three years, according to figures made public last week by the owners of private KTEO centres.
-
PASOK and New Democracy trade accusations over the state of the economy





















