Political secrets
Revelations by Capital Brief that the government distributed a secret manual to avoid Senate questions add to the political and economic headaches facing the government.
Revelations that Anthony Albanese’s office provided a secret manual for ministers and public servants to avoid answering questions raised in the Senate aren't just concerning from an integrity standpoint. They also represent an unwanted political headache for the prime minister just as he faces the toughest period of his term to date.
And the news could also potentially affect his ability to sell the government's new economic agenda.
Capital Brief revealed on Tuesday that the Prime Minister’s Office had in recent weeks distributed a template of answers to questions raised in Senate estimates to multiple government departments — the vast bulk of which were suggestions on how to obfuscate from answering them.
That the document was leaked in the first place suggests there is growing frustration within the corridors of power and in the public service about the PMO’s command and control approach. This is not unusual in the modern era, but still notable.
