The focus today is on new ministers and the new Liberal leadership team. But what about the people who do the leg work – the staff?

The Australian reports today that “the 90 advisers who worked for the Labor Party in Opposition have been asked to reapply if they want to work for the incoming administration”.

Kevin Rudd asked staff to do that when he became Labor leader last year – although, this time around, one suspects that the ads, as Crikey first reported, won’t talk about AWAs. And AWAs or not, jobs for those who support parliamentarians are some of the most precarious around.

Over the past few days, emails have been flooding in from former ministerial staffers. Some show gallows humour. “Due to the people of Australia officially terminating my employment on Saturday (nothing personal, I’m sure), please note that this email address will no longer work as of tomorrow,” one read.

Another went: “I will be out of the office starting 27/11/2007 and will not return until 20/11/2010.”

A common thread is “I think I’ll keep the mobile number”.

Staff who worked for MPs who lost their seats will get two week’s pay and anything else owed to them. This often isn’t much given the high turnover in political jobs. The hours are terrible and the pay is worse.

Former Liberal staff will find the job market tight. Their party is out of power everywhere. They are not natural choices for lobbying or government affairs roles. They might know how Canberra works, but they will simply not have the access.

Circumstances for many of the winners won’t be much better. If they worked for a parliamentarian as an electorate officer, at least they will have some continuity.

If they were advisers, however, they must reapply for that role. If they are successful, they will then have a probationary period, even if they have worked in politics for several years (it can be waived, but the practice is discouraged).

There’s not much security of tenure in these roles. The conditions of employment, even under collective agreements, require no reasons for termination and there is not an appeal process.

While there are a hell of a lot more jobs in government, there is no guarantee that existing staff will get one – let alone a position that might suit their experience.

There will be a few committed people who did the hard slog of opposition who will miss out. Others will feel unable to take a role beneath their capability and experience.

The parties aren’t much good at looking after their own – the Libs are completely negligent.

But for the winners, well … There is nothing like driving in that big white car out to RAAF Fairbairn and getting on a VIP jet. Nothing.