According to the ABC, semi-autonomous Federal Government agencies must clear their media releases with the Department of Prime Minister before releasing.
"The essence of the message was that the Government wanted to ensure a degree of consistency in message on key messages and therefore wanted to clear key messages through the Prime Minister’s office."
Shades of Yes, Minister in the above. What a giggle.
Just blog it, agencies. Bypass the Bureaucracy, Subvert the Hierarchy Comrades!
But … but I want to keep my job!!
Hearing Mark Patterson this morning was interesting. Having met him a few times, and knowing he’s one of the few Secretaries to have ever come to the role from business rather than the public sector, I was surprised. He doesn’t usually dance like he did today, he’s usually a straight shooter.
As an employee of one of the agencies mentioned above: this is really no different to the regime under the previous government. Except for one thing: now, it’s actually declared as such.
Having said that, it’s still farcical; for all the bluff and bluster that we’re there to serve a specific purpose, that purpose was never meant to be political. Yes, we take a fair chunk of our money from the taxpayer. However the taxpayer doesn’t as a rule expect us to use that for purposes that support politicians; if any return on “investment” is required, it’s of a research nature.
Still, politicians will be politicians…