Lessons in Governing, a unique contribution to the study of Australian policy, politics and government institutions, examines the position of Chief of Staff to the Australian Prime Minister, exploring the support needs of Australian political leaders and tracing the forces that have shaped the growth and specialisation of the Prime Ministers' Office since Gough Whitlam first appointed a trusted senior person as head of his private office in 1972. Individuals in successive Prime Ministers' Offices have long been recognised as key players, but their role has come under greater scrutiny as the link between prime ministerial effectiveness and the performance of their private offices has become more widely understood. The position has a forty-year history, yet little is known about the job. How have its occupants accommodated the personalities, preferences and working styles of the prime ministers they have supported? How have they navigated the complexities and pressures of life at the centre of government? Despite its undoubted significance, until relatively recently no systematic attempt has been made to understand and document the evolution of the Chief of Staff position.
