“Positions have been advertised that include those required for cultural diversity and inclusion adviser positions, change managers and internal communication specialists, but such positions, as I say, do nothing to improve the lives of everyday Australians.” – Peter Dutton, Opposition Leader (The Age, 31 January 2025)
Recent comments from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton dismissing internal communication professionals as unnecessary government spending ignore a fundamental truth: clear, effective communication is the backbone of an efficient and high-performing public service.
Slashing these roles may seem like a cost-saving measure, but the reality is, cutting internal communication professionals will cost taxpayers more in lost productivity, inefficiency, and poor service delivery.
“If every Australian public servant saved just 10 minutes a day through better communication, we’d unlock nearly $400 million in productivity savings annually,” said Adrian Cropley OAM, FRSA, SCMP, co-founder of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence. “Removing the people responsible for creating that efficiency is not just short sighted, it’s a step backwards for a modern government.”
Why internal communication is essential
Internal communication professionals play a critical role in making government work for the people it serves. Their expertise ensures:
- Policy clarity —so employees understand and implement government initiatives correctly.
- Increased efficiency—reducing duplication, confusion, and wasted effort.
- Crisis preparedness —enabling quick, coordinated responses in emergencies.
- Stronger engagement —leading to a more productive, motivated public sector workforce.
“This is a defining moment for internal communication professionals,” said Sia Papageorgiou FRSA, FCSCE, SCMP, co-founder of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence. “If leaders don’t see our value, we need to ask ourselves—are we demonstrating it clearly enough? Now is the time to step forward, prove our impact, and make sure decision-makers recognise the role we play in driving real outcomes.”
A caution to the Australian Government
A more effective, streamlined government is a goal we all share. But removing the very people who make public sector operations clearer, faster, and more efficient is the wrong approach.
The Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence calls on policymakers to recognise the real value of internal communication professionals, not as bureaucratic excess, but as essential drivers of efficiency, service delivery, and taxpayer value.
