If you were to ask the average Australian to picture the kind of work that defines the country—nurses pulling grueling 12-hour shifts, police officers on the frontlines of community safety, miners working deep underground, or even bin men rising before dawn to keep our cities clean—you’d see the backbone of the nation’s labor force. Now, compare that mental image to the career backgrounds of those who govern us. The picture becomes alarmingly different.
A deep dive into the work histories of Australia’s federal ministers reveals a sobering truth: very few of them have ever worked in the kinds of jobs that represent the majority of Australians’ experiences. Instead, the corridors of power are filled with career politicians, former union officials, lawyers, and political staffers—a political class increasingly divorced from the realities of the people they serve.
Anthony Albanese – Prime Minister
Before entering politics, Anthony Albanese worked as a research officer and assistant general secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party. He also served as a political adviser to former minister Tom Uren.
Richard Marles – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence
Richard Marles began his career as a solicitor before becoming a legal officer with the Transport Workers’ Union. He later served as assistant secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
Jim Chalmers – Treasurer
Jim Chalmers holds a PhD in political science and worked as a research officer and policy adviser, including serving as chief of staff to former Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan.
Penny Wong – Minister for Foreign Affairs
Penny Wong worked as a lawyer and political adviser before entering politics. She was an adviser to former New South Wales state minister Michael Lee and served as an industrial officer with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
Tony Burke – Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Tony Burke’s early career included roles as a union organiser with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association and as a company director.
Mark Butler – Minister for Health and Aged Care
Mark Butler worked as an official with the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union and served as secretary of the South Australian branch before his parliamentary career.
Tanya Plibersek – Minister for Education
Tanya Plibersek worked in the New South Wales Government’s Domestic Violence Unit and later as a research officer for the Labor Party before entering federal politics.
Chris Bowen – Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Chris Bowen served as a councillor and mayor of Fairfield City Council. He also worked as an electorate officer and chief of staff to former New South Wales state minister Carl Scully.
Catherine King – Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Catherine King worked in the public service, including roles in the Department of Health and Aged Care, and as a social policy adviser to former minister Duncan Kerr.
Ed Husic – Minister for Industry and Science
Ed Husic served as the national president of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and worked as a senior adviser to former New South Wales premier Bob Carr.
Linda Burney – Minister for Indigenous Australians
Linda Burney has a background in education, working as a teacher, and has extensive experience in Indigenous advocacy and public service, including serving as the director-general of the New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
Where Did the “Real Jobs” Go?
Take a glance at the resumes of Australia’s key ministers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began his career as a research officer and political adviser. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was a lawyer and union official. Treasurer Jim Chalmers? A policy adviser and political science academic. The pattern repeats across the board. While these roles undoubtedly require intelligence and strategic thinking, they are far removed from the hands-on, high-pressure work that most Australians do.
Only a handful of ministers have relatable work experience. For instance, Linda Burney worked as a teacher and dedicated much of her career to Indigenous advocacy. Sussan Ley flew planes as a commercial pilot and ran a farm. But these examples are the exception, not the rule.
The glaring absence of ministers who have worked as nurses, police officers, tradies, or other frontline professions creates a jarring disconnect. It begs the question: how can you govern effectively when you’ve never walked in the shoes of those you govern?
The Problem with Career Politicians
Australia, like many Western democracies, is increasingly governed by career politicians. These are individuals who move seamlessly from university to political staffer roles, to pre-selection, and finally into parliament. Along the way, many skip the formative experience of working in a job where you’re accountable to the public in a direct and tangible way.
This insular career path breeds a particular kind of politician—one adept at navigating party politics, crafting policy in theory, and surviving election campaigns. But what it often fails to produce is empathy for the lived experiences of ordinary Australians. The result? Policies that can feel disconnected from the realities of those who work in health care, trades, and other essential industries.
Policies Made in an Ivory Tower
When decision-makers lack firsthand experience in the industries they regulate, it’s no surprise that policies often miss the mark. Consider healthcare: how many ministers have worked as nurses or doctors, experiencing the exhaustion of double shifts or the frustration of navigating a system stretched thin? In policing, how many understand the daily risks and pressures officers face? Or in the trades, how many have felt the uncertainty of relying on contract work?
Instead, ministers rely on advisers, consultants, and lobbyists to bridge the gap. While these intermediaries provide valuable input, they cannot replicate the insights gained from personal experience. This disconnect is why policies can often feel overly theoretical, out of touch, or skewed toward special interests.
The Public Sees Through It
Australians are increasingly frustrated by this lack of real-world experience in their leaders, and it’s not just a “feeling”—it’s an observable reality. A minister who has never experienced the grind of working a minimum-wage job or the physical toll of manual labor will struggle to fully empathize with those who do. And while some might argue that intelligence and political acumen are more important than experience, the two are not mutually exclusive. You can be smart and experienced.
Why This Matters
The absence of diverse work backgrounds among ministers isn’t just a matter of optics—it has real consequences for governance. Policies crafted by people who have never felt the sting of a late paycheck, the stress of job insecurity, or the exhaustion of physical labor are bound to reflect that lack of understanding. When frontline workers see their struggles dismissed or misunderstood by policymakers, trust erodes, and engagement with the political process declines.
The Path Forward
If Australia is to have a government that truly represents its people, it needs to encourage candidates from all walks of life to enter politics. This isn’t just about fairness; it’s about building a government that better understands and serves the needs of its citizens. Greater diversity in professional backgrounds among ministers would lead to more balanced policymaking and a political system more grounded in the realities of everyday Australians.
This change starts with us. As voters, we must demand more from our representatives. We need to challenge the status quo of career politicians and push for leaders who bring a wealth of real-world experience to the table—whether that’s a nurse, a miner, or yes, even a bin man.
Only then can we bridge the great disconnect between Australia’s government and its people.
