Politicians, Bureaucrats and public sector reform in Australia and New Zealand

Under the Westminster model, the relations between politicians and bureaucrats have traditionally centred on the co-existence of the neutral public service and responsible government (Aucoin, 1995). The embedded tension between the two elements has been kept in balance by applying well-established principles. During the last thirty years, however, an imbalance became apparent and politicians sought to expand their authority in response to the officials’ ascendancy. This has occurred as part of comprehensive programmes of reform that combined management and market components raising questions about the resolution of contradictions between elements.