It is in the nature of the bureaucratic beast to want at least perpetual existence and usually perpetual growth. It is very rare for an organ of government, a business or a social organisation to say, our job is done we are now going out of existence. It is equally rare for such a body to say our job is mostly done, we need fewer people and less money now. That holds whether it is Wool International or ASIO.
What will Wool International do once its sole stated task of selling the stockpile is done? It will find some excuse for staying in existence and growing in size.
What are all those spies doing now the cold war is over? Are they asking government to down-size them, now that a large part of their task has vanished? No fear. They are arguing that without the polarising cold war, security is even more complex. We need more intelligence officers; not fewer. And there are other threats being drawn out of the woodwork. The Olympic Games, coming as they do at the numerologically significant time at end of the century, will invite terrorists as the full moon invites werewolves.
Just to add to the public perception that spies are indeed very significant to Australian national security, we are told that three have been murdered in the past five years … that is, after the wall came down. Who are they? Who betrayed them? What are the details? Never mind. The more unanswered questions you have the greater the security apparatus you need.