On June 22, 2018, a new cross-portfolio, inter-governmental Ministry, the Federal Ministry for Empathy, was established to introduce notions of empathy, compassion and kindness into Australia’s mainstream political culture.
The Federal Ministry for Empathy is a central agency and advocacy instrument providing co-ordinated strategy and leadership for the emotional intelligence, mental health and well-being of Australia’s political culture.
It is important to nurture, develop and promote the emotional intelligence and well-being of Australia’s political class to ensure humanity remains front-and-centre in government deliberations whether matters of national security, agriculture, arts, education, manufacturing or technology.
The new Ministry for Empathy will have responsibility for ensuring a nationally consistent approach to empathy, compassion and kindness whilst securing the integrity of Australia’s emotional intelligence program and protecting our psychological borders.
The Ministry’s activities will be refreshed on a regular basis in order to remain emotionally responsive, psychologically alert and politically disarming.
The Minister’s first duty will be a comprehensive round of interviews with key Ministers, the progress of which will be available to the public in 2018.
The Ministry was launched two years to the day David Pledger was elected Minister for Empathy by 42 Australians in Canberra, 10 days before the 2016 Federal Election. References to previous departmental positions held by said Minister have been deleted.
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Minister for Empathy, David Pledger
Chief-of-Staff , Alex Kelly
Communications, Natalie Cursio
Advisor, Mark Atkin
Ambassador (Australia), Pippa Bailey
Ambassador (International), Peter Eckersall