Opinion: Jackie Trad right to demand her pick of right-hand man

Surely it’s not sensible to leave unelected bureaucrats to choose the person who a minister must most rely on, writes Robert Schwarten.

A CCC report into former deputy premier and treasurer Jackie Trad has finally been released.

I was alarmed to learn from the Crime and Corruption Commission’s now-released probe into the appointment of former deputy premier and treasurer Jackie Trad’s under treasurer that a minister these days relies on the public service to tell them who will be their director-general.

Surely it’s not sensible to leave unelected bureaucrats to choose the person who a minister must most rely on for advice, counsel and support?

The idea that the bureaucracy knows best is flawed – a fact to which I can attest.

When I became a minister in 1998 I was greeted by two acting directors-general chosen by the premier’s office.

I was told a permanent appointment would be on merit, and selected by a panel.

A couple of suggestions were made by the premier’s director-general, but I didn’t like either.

So we soldiered on for the best part of a year while I got to know the two acting directors-general, and they me.

I did not socialise with them, nor them me – but we got on well.

They understood my views, me theirs, and there was, I believe, mutual respect.

It turned out that one stayed with me until I retired, and the other was transferred to another department following a machinery of government change.

The process for appointment was a panel chaired by myself but that included industry leaders, stakeholders and public servants.

I also appointed another minister to assist me in one of the cases so I had another ministerial view.

Neither of the applicants who ended up being successful was the best interviewed.

In one case the best candidate interviewed came from a federal department and had all the answers.

He spoke excellent policy lingo – including knowing the term “intersectorial collaboration” – and knew where the department should be headed.

His problem was he didn’t seek my view, nor that of the government, nor did he know any policies we had taken to the election.

Ultimately the panel came to the conclusion that the pair in the acting roles would make great directors-general, and they did.

There is no fail-safe method to appointing anyone to any job, especially when the slick salesman will always interview better than the noble yet smart workhorse.

But in 13 years I never had cause for concern about the quality or quantity of advice I was given by my directors-general.

They were loyal public servants, and we often had robust debates – which today would be classed as bullying – and they never flinched in their duty.

It is shameful ministers today are ostracised from appointing the most important public servant who is responsible to them.

Robert Schwarten is a former Labor government minister