Thread: So the govt just announced a restructure (read: cuts) to the public service. Sounds mundane but even something as small as a department name tells us a lot about what we can expect. For example, have a look at how the former Immigration Department changed over time 
So what's new with this restructure? The short answer is that the govt is cutting four departments, 18 down to 14. The govt says it's not about saving money but to "improve decision making" whatever that means
The first move is to combine the Education Department with the Employment Department. Seems like a big step toward the notion that education is only for getting a job... you might be surprised to know I think that's a hollow idea
Next up the Department of the Environment is being shifted to the Department of Agriculture, which is very political. The govt essentially just handed the Environment Department to the Nationals who are stacked with climate crisis denialists
Further to that point, the energy functions of the Department of the Environment are being moved to a beefed-up Department of Industry. The implication is that energy is more related to business that it is to the environment... subtle
Next, the Department of Communications and the Arts is being shunted to the Department of... Infrastructure and Transport? Some of it makes sense (Comms looks after things like broadband, spectrum policy etc) but it's mostly a really weird move
Comms is in charge of copyright, broadcasting policies, telecommunications, digital issues etc which doesn't seem like an obvious fit. My guess is that the idea is to be seen as developing regional areas with these tools (... which was what Comms did anyway)
It's important to note that Comms also manages cultural heritage. For example it runs the International Repatriation Program which returns Aboriginal ancestral remains and sacred objects to communities. That's next to infrastructure and transport now 😬
The new name is the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 'The Arts' have dropped off completely, which is a sure sign that they're not a concern for this govt. Expect more funding cuts to orgs etc
In summary: education is for jobs only, the Nationals run environmental policy now, energy has moved closer to industry, the Transport Department is looking after Aboriginal ancestral remains and the govt just flipped the bird to the arts /fin
