A Rather Entertaining Graduate Seminar
Mar. 14th, 2007 01:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
This morning I became a Cabinet Minister.
Really! (well, not really) Along with four other graduates, I had a Cabinet meeting over coffee, and together with our Premier (in this case, a lecturer in politics) we discussed whether or not we should build a new pulp mill in Albury.
I was all in favour of the plan, while the others (leftist greenies, the lot of them!) were more interested in putting a wildlife reserve there, in the hopes of attracting tourists.
Despite my (very well-put) arguments that the mill would create jobs, support rural communities, and help interstate relations, my Cabinet colleagues could not be swayed. In the end, at the Premier's insistence, I relented, and together we announced our unanimous decision to the press, and the public service (represented by another 80 graduates).
Although the public service are supposed to be unbiased, they had (prior to the Cabinet meeting) asked us to support THEIR preferences. Some even resorted to bribery, in the form of biscuits provided for morning tea. I must say, I am appalled by this evidence of blatant corruption present in our government departments.
Of course, the unions will not be at all happy with the decision not to support a mill that would have created many extra jobs. The Premier reasoned that, whichever way we chose, someone would be unhappy: "If we build the mill, we'll be annoying a large number of middle class latte drinkers." I pointed out that I'd rather be mobbed by people drinking lattes than angry truckies, wharfies, and the like - but he thought that this point was rather trivial.
At any rate, the press (10 graduates) greeted the news with rapturous applause, and assured us of their support in our quest to be re-elected. With this one parliamentary achievement under my belt, I resigned from the Ministry, and resumed my post as a lowly public servant...
Really! (well, not really) Along with four other graduates, I had a Cabinet meeting over coffee, and together with our Premier (in this case, a lecturer in politics) we discussed whether or not we should build a new pulp mill in Albury.
I was all in favour of the plan, while the others (leftist greenies, the lot of them!) were more interested in putting a wildlife reserve there, in the hopes of attracting tourists.
Despite my (very well-put) arguments that the mill would create jobs, support rural communities, and help interstate relations, my Cabinet colleagues could not be swayed. In the end, at the Premier's insistence, I relented, and together we announced our unanimous decision to the press, and the public service (represented by another 80 graduates).
Although the public service are supposed to be unbiased, they had (prior to the Cabinet meeting) asked us to support THEIR preferences. Some even resorted to bribery, in the form of biscuits provided for morning tea. I must say, I am appalled by this evidence of blatant corruption present in our government departments.
Of course, the unions will not be at all happy with the decision not to support a mill that would have created many extra jobs. The Premier reasoned that, whichever way we chose, someone would be unhappy: "If we build the mill, we'll be annoying a large number of middle class latte drinkers." I pointed out that I'd rather be mobbed by people drinking lattes than angry truckies, wharfies, and the like - but he thought that this point was rather trivial.
At any rate, the press (10 graduates) greeted the news with rapturous applause, and assured us of their support in our quest to be re-elected. With this one parliamentary achievement under my belt, I resigned from the Ministry, and resumed my post as a lowly public servant...