Too many or too few? The increase in federal ministerial advisers 1972-1999

This paper examines recently published figures that show the increase ill m inisterial staff between 1972 and 1996 (Dunn 1997). A careful examination o f the table in Dunn's book reveals it gives a misleading impression of the number of ministerial staff the number of advisory staff to ministers; and the growth in advisory resources over the Hawke-Keating period, By re-analy sing the figures the paper reveals the reality, of the growth in advisory s taff to ministers in 1972-1999. It provides an account of the number of sta ff providing policy and political advice to ministers in ministerial office s, rather than total staff numbers. It reveals advisory resources to minist ers have grown significantly since the introduction of ministerial advisers in 1972. However the growth ill adviser numbers over the Hawke-Keating per iod was more modest than is suggested by Dunn's table. The paper provides t he base data needed for a discussion of the increase in ministerial staff a nd whether there are too few or too many federal ministerial advisers.