Are we meant to think that Albanese didn't replace the previous 'political appointments' with his own political appointments? New standards of 'integrity'? Is that really a word that can be applied to Australian Orwellian politics? The word has meant nothing for a long time now - since Turnbull and Morrison, and it's not in Albanese's lexicon at all.

'Washminster' is an excellent description of what Australia has now. So is 'grubby'.

The attack is on born to rule, privilege, the old boys' club, not on merit.

Merit would see more females and folks from disadvantaged sectors, post code poverty traps, getting a Guernsey.

We need reform and an end to the way of life that created the Master, Servant, mindset.

And not all that needs to be reformed. Tax reform and energy policy reform, stand front and centre, and needing a complete rethink and action!

Did they sacrifice in vain? Lest we forget what they died and otherwise sacrificed to protect or change!
Alan B.

How many years/decades have we been saying exactly that ?

If the disparity between merit & the salary ceilings of the Public Service aren't sorted soon, we'll have an economic collapse that'll make the GFC look like a petty cash problem.
Sport & entertainment too are simply out of control in their salaries !
The worst are the UNI Degree "qualifications" that have the most unwarranted awards. Unless we revert some way to merit based salaries, I'm afraid we'll just sink ever deeper in this greed-based quicksand ! Award must reflect performance if we want to be serious about our economy !