The literature on multi-level careers is still developing. Some comparative studies have shown surprisingly low levels of movement from state level parliaments to national parliaments in federal systems, in Australia the figure varies but around 1/8th of federal MPs have served as state MPs. Why is the number so low? This paper examines this factor by looking at ministers in the Australian federal parliament. Over a 55 year period only 27 federal ministers had served previously as state level MPs. We examine the careers of these 27 ministers to test the hypothesis that careers are determined by considerations of political power. We propose a theoretical framework based on career opportunities at federal and state level to explain these career choices. We argue that MPs switch from state to federal level when the relative chances of electoral success increase, but serving as a state minister reduces switching since moving from office to backbench status is a retrograde step unless federal ministerial office beckons. We examine party and party faction effects; and lower and upper house effects. We also examine cases where ministers have been parachuted in to ministerial office (for example, Bob Carr former NSW premier to become Foreign Minister being assigned a vacant Senate seat). The paper examines changing trends over time, party and party faction effects, the reasons for these unusual career moves, considering the profile, success and background characteristics of the unusual cases.
