Common Terms
Common terms have been used throughout this report to present information about groups of MOP(S) Act employees. The composition of employees into these groups changed with the introduction of the current government. It is anticipated that in future reports the comparison between years will be more straightforward, due to the application of consistent definitions across years.
To aid in the interpretation of this report, common terms have been described below. Relevant footnotes included at the base of charts and tables throughout the report provide additional detailed explanations where the composition of the groups has changed from 2007 to 2008.
Personal employees
An employee who is not an electorate employee, employed under Part III of the MOP(S) Act by an Office Holder.
Electorate employees
An employee employed under either Part III or Part IV of the MOP(S) Act in an electorate officer classification.
Senior Staff
The term used to describe the combined group of personal employees classified above the level of Adviser. This includes all employees in the following classifications:
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Government |
Principal Adviser |
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Senior Adviser (Chief of Staff) (Cabinet) |
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Media Adviser (Deputy PM / Treasurer) |
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Senior Adviser 2 |
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Senior Adviser 1 (Cabinet) |
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Senior Adviser (Chief of Staff) (non–Cabinet) |
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Senior Adviser 1 (non–Cabinet) |
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Senior Media Adviser |
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Special Adviser |
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Opposition |
Chief of Staff (Leader of the Opposition) |
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Senior Adviser / Media Adviser (Leader of the Opposition) |
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Senior Adviser |
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Senior Media Adviser |
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Special Adviser |
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Minority Parties |
Senior Adviser |
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Special Adviser |
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Presiding Officers' |
Senior Adviser |
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Special Adviser |
Government employees
Personal employees that are employed by Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries to work directly for the government, that is, the political party with the largest representation in the House of Representatives.
Opposition employees
Personal employees employed by the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, or Shadow Ministers, to work on behalf of the main non–government political party or Coalition, that is, the political party or Coalition with the second largest representation in the House of Representatives.
Other Government employees
Personal employees of Government Senators and Members (other than those of Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, and the Presiding Officers). This category has only been used since the beginning of 2008, due to the reporting preferences of the current Government in relation to the employment of Whips staff.
Other non–Government employees
Personal employees who are not included in the Government, Opposition or Other Government categories, as described above, such as employees of Independent Senators and Members, former Leaders and Presiding Officers.