https://theshovel.com.au/2024/06/04/my-300k-speechwriter-is-lots-good-shorten-says/

"Labor MP Bill Shorten has used a speech at the Canberra Press Club to defend his new $300,000-a-year speechwriter, pointing out that good speechwriters are as rare as rocket surgery these days."

Wish I kept copies of corporate speeches from decades go. 

 

The seriously good BS in those speeches when I think about it was amazing. BS by "multiple" magnitudes.

 

A person with skills with a pen will outdo most of history.

These speech writers, for want of a better term, are employed by Services to assure that Govt communications are delivered accurately and correctly. Writing speeches for politicians is just part of their job. As to the remuneration, this is not set by politicians but by the Public Service. They all utilise them to articulate the policies. I recall the late Malcolm Fraser engaged Alan Jones as his personal writer.

He was also a senior adviser to Big Mal, Dorian, so I imagine he would have been one of the PM's personal staff.

The speech writers named in the latest media is basically not a correct title. Politicians cannot be expected to be over every bit of legislation and policy so these guys draft the press releases as directed by the minister's office. 

It just sounded a nice headline quote to refer to him as Bill's speech writer but anyone who understood the mere basics of how governments operate would know that it was not correct.

They are perhaps more a necessity in areas like foreign affairs, legal matters and human services where a misquote or factual era can cause untold grief and misunderstanding.

Barry Cassidy, the former host of Insiders, was the media and press secretary for Bob Hawke.

-- Edited by DMaxer on Saturday 8th of June 2024 10:04:58 AM

JayDee wrote:

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As a State Sales Manager of a huge company, nobody wrote my speeches, but good old Jay himself. However, with the product knowledge that I possessed most of my speeches were "off the cuff" so to speak.
If politicians cannot write and deliver a speech that they personally think and believe in then he has no right for the major minister position.
Labor was supposed to be a PARTY for the working-class folks of Australia.

Now I understand that some political speeches have to be spot on, as the rest of the world would be listening if it was an International subject.

I would welcome to have the current government's "money tree" growing in my backyard.
Just my view

Jay&Dee

-- Edited by JayDee on Saturday 8th of June 2024 07:05:09 AM

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 An interesting comparison 

DMaxer wrote:

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I don't set the salaries in the Australian Public Service Craig so don't shoot the messenger. However, $300K a year is not big money in that field. Some of the leading movers and shakers are on three times that much and more. 

NDIS is not an international affair but it does come under Human Services. Someone or some body must think they are worth that amount if they set the salary at that level. Why don't you ask your local Federal member for an explanation and then you can come back to us and enlighten us all. 

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 The Australian Public Service.......is an oxymoron, the vast majority of those employed with it never have contact with the public.

IMHO no one in the APS should be paid in excess of $500,000, why should anyone in the APS get 14.5% super contributions where the private sector is 11%

Well, someone or more rightly several people think they should be paid that much Gundog. It is the heads of departments and upper level that get remunerated well.

In any event it is an open shop and anyone can apply for a job with the APS. In earlier days i spent a little time with them and have had a few contracts later in life but it is not a position I would like to have had permanently.  The vast majority earn less than their counterparts in the private sector and usually it is difficult for them to make the transition should they choose. I don't know, anyone can apply and make a quid if they think they can hack it. I don't really care one way or the other what anyone is paid if the position is open to everyone.

Reminds me of a verse; The working class can kiss my ar$e, I have a Government job at last.