When you write about them, then the hire you

This was an interesting moment in time. The details of my Commonwealth Government phase are secret (because they have to be). But, here’s a little story in the lead up to getting that job. In about November 2023 there was a big High Court decision. This was one of the most influential and landmark cases in migration history of Australia. It rendered indefinite detention illegal. Just seems logical, right? I mean, sure. To the lay person. Yes, we should not detain people indefinitely. But, if I tell you they are migrants - does that change? Possibly.

Anyway, opinions aside, Pauline following this big case there was some new and very reactive Government response. That Government response essentially put ankle monitors, reporting conditions and other dubious conditions, akin to that of how this country monitors known terrorists. That legislation was passed in twenty-something days. Now for anyone that has worked in anything Government related, you know that is literally record timing. I mean making a decision on most things Government related takes time. There are a lot of levels of approval, a lot of checks and balances and multiple humans, departments and standards that need to be met.

Well, at the time of this legislation it was my opinion that this legislation did meet any standard. Rather it was a rushed, volatile and a gross over reach of power on behalf of the Departments that owned and enforced it. I wrote that article. I posted in on the interwebs.

Then, I got a call from a Commonwealth Government Department. That Department wanted to interview me for a job. An executive level job. The kind of job that requires security clearances. The kind of security clearance where they look at your background, your socials and try to understand if you are going to be able to be blackmailed for state secrets. Honestly, prefer you just didn’t tell me the secrets.

So, in the midst of said security check… I removed the article from the interwebs. They asked me in the interview what I thought of the legislation. I said it was likely going to face scrutiny (understatement of the century). I took the job. I watched millions be spent on attempting to enforce a rushed and volatile legislation. Maybe I shouldn’t have deleted the article? Or, maybe at times, we suck up our opinions for the sake of something bigger?

Maybe.

I don’t work there anymore… so, I guess that’s that.