Charles Cho’s journey to becoming the second General Counsel of the New South Wales Treasury was far from straightforward. His career started at one of the largest commercial law firms in the Asia-Pacific region, but a series of events ultimately led him to public service—a sector where he now finds his calling. In conversations with the Journal, Cho discusses what makes a good government solicitor, emphasizing the importance of ethics and integrity for the role.
The moral complexities of public decision-making are central to Cho’s perspective. He draws on Ursula K. Le Guin’s short story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas to illustrate the ethical challenges governments face. The tale describes a prosperous city whose happiness depends on a child’s suffering in isolation. Residents, aware of this sacrifice, must choose between maintaining the status quo or leaving. Cho uses this narrative to reflect on government decisions, such as allocating funds between children’s health and elderly care. The budget is, in his own words, an ethical dilemma, “and government lawyers play a critical role in ensuring these decisions are lawful, transparent and that the rule of law is always upheld.”
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Cho’s ethics training for his team incorporates Le Guin’s story to explore these trade-offs, focusing on the tension between moral absolutes and the greater good. The narrative serves as a tool for examining whether individuals will uphold systemic compromises or act on their principles.
